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Luck Ch. 01

By: redwitch



'That girl' just stood there, her body separate from her mind, her bones filled with concrete, her eyes filled with smoke and her lungs filled with the acrid remains of her entire life burning before her.

'That girl' just stood there, her mouth clamped tight and silent, her heart constricted as it screamed silently into her chest.

'Turn away!

Yes, that is what she should do, she would turn away. Any second now her head would turn.

Any second now.

"This is a dream." she heard her own voice but couldn't feel her lips move, swore she heard relief in the chuckle that followed. "Just a bad dream, pinch yourself, you'll wake up."

So that girl stood there in the middle of the street pinching herself, waiting to wake up, her eyes wide unblinking, her tears making streaks through the soot on her face.

That's when she heard it.

"Mimi!" over and over the voice yelled, getting louder and closer.

Mimi was 'that girl's' name and she recognized it.

Oh god, now it was shaking her!

"She's in shock!" it was a different voice

"Oh my God!" the first one cried. "HELP!" 

"We need a doctor!" the 3rd voice screamed. 

WAIT! She knew those voices, that was Luci and Lyndsy her closest friends, and Marz, Luci's fiancée. She scanned her memory to make sure. 

Lyndsy was a 6-ft mahogany-skinned model who paid top dollar for the hottest couture; she imported her shoes from Italy and her hair from India, she had her fingernails manicured with diamond dust and was hands down the classiest woman Mimi knew. 

Luci had vivid red hair she was constantly 'punking' out. She was full of humor mixed with a genius that only an airhead could achieve. Japanese street fashion was her life, the bolder the better. She had a heart of gold and was the first to console when trouble arose.

Marz was a tall brother with a deep chocolate tone and a head full of dreads he kept pulled back, he was a male version of Luci, quick to laugh, full of sarcasm but had a mischievous nature that at 26, he still couldn't shake. They had been through it all with her; had been loyal friends when her father died, then her immediate family when her mother passed. They were all she had left.

They watched her abruptly snap out of it, her eyes finally focused on them. 

"Mimi!" Luci cried, hugging her. 

Reality hit her like lightning; she turned to see Lyndsy and Marz staring at her. Than she looked up high and saw the massive fire. She looked back towards Lyndsy and asked "Can I stay with you tonight?" before she fainted. 

Luci and Lyndsy stood over the bed looking down at Mimi. "It's been 3 days," Lyndsy said almost out of her mind with worry "It's shock, when you lose your family restaurant, your home and everything you've ever owned, you go into shock," Luci said, fresh tears starting in her eyes. "I don't care if it's shock, she hasn't woke up in 3 days! We're taking her to the emergency room!" 

"If she isn't up by tonight we'll take her." 

She laid there in that bed, her eyes closed but she couldn't sleep, her brain was working triple time, but she had no coherent thoughts. She was lost in a lucid dream she didn't want to leave. She had gone back to the beginning, the only 'once upon a time' that she could remember: the short-lived happiness of her family. 

There had been two people who were desperately in love; one was a great man, a scholar, with an intelligence that went beyond his years. He had a passion for life and the all American dream of riches he worked hard to achieve. He had struggled through a life of poverty at a time when the world was not catering to his African American roots, so he used his knowledge and cunning to make himself a success. The second was the most wonderful mother in the world, a blonde-haired blue-eyed angel who spread dreams like pixie dust, wishing and dreaming, seeing the impossible and conquering it. She had been a modern-day muse with a penchant for cooking. No one could resist the incomparable aroma of one of her newest creations. It was love at first sight, marriage by second sight and baby by third. They struggled against racism; their own families did not approve of them.

Despite the odds, the family had lived a happy fulfilling life with their whirlwind, never dying romance and their perfect baby girl. 

Until that unfortunate day. 

The father had been killed in a serious car wreck. It was a devastating blow and the mother never recovered. She became a veritable recluse hiding deep in the kitchen of the restaurant she and her husband built together. She lived a lonely and pitiful existence for 5 long years until one day she went into her room and never came out. The doctor had said she had a heart attack but the daughter, only 18 at the time, knew that her heart had actually broken and had been slowly dying for years. It was at her funeral that she vowed to keep love out of her system and never fall victim to it. No matter how good it might feel, the consequences were horrendous, life altering and deadly. So at 22 she was a virgin who had never been in a relationship or experienced 'true love', but she was running and cooking for a thriving restaurant and called herself happy. 

Well, she used to. 

"You have to get up, please get up." she heard the voice crying from far away.

She didn't want to get up. Why? What was there to get up to? She had lost everything! The fire had swept through the entire building, everything was ash. She could feel the tears choking her, her chest tight and she found it difficult to breath, even her beloved 'Punjab', he was her mother's cat for God's sake. She sat up abruptly and took the deepest breath she had taken in a long time. The fresh air burned her clenched lungs. 

'Don't think about it!' her mind cried, she had to be strong or she would sink, she knew. She had sunk low once before and she had never been the same, her parents deaths still plagued her. That was a horrible time and she would not allow herself to ever go there again in her life. She stood up on shaky legs, her heart racing; she put her right foot forward and leaned on it for stability. "If my foot works, than my hand works, my brain works." she stood as straight as she could, her chin up a little, "I will force my heart to work." 

"1st things 1st, I need a job and a place to live." she said as she entered the living room. Lyndsy had dropped the cookie she was eating out of her perfectly manicured fingers, her half full mouth opened wide in shock. Mimi grinned, seeing cookie particles fall from her mouth to her expensive dress; normally she would have been pissed and worried about a stain. Luci ran into the room hearing her voice. 

"Oh thank God!" she said going in for a hug but Mimi put her hands up to stop her, "No, I need to go look for a job," she said. All 3 girls knowing that she was holding on by a thread but fighting hard and Mimi knew that hug would be her undoing, she wasn't ready for that yet. 

***

He was jaded; there was no question about it. He hated what he had become. He was sick of everything, every aspect of his fake life, the fake friends, the phony people, the girls that secretly hated him for being an arrogant asshole, but adored him because his name was in lights and being seen with him could further their careers. A man could only take so much, and he was past his point. He was leaving his life, his career, all the shallow relationships and artificial love. He was leaving tinsel town once and for all. Sure, he should be grateful, he was 28 and in the prime of his career, handsome as sin; his last film raked in 20 million. It was a ridiculous amount of money, he was almost ashamed now, with the poverty level so high, and people were fucking starving, while he dined on ultra expensive meals that tasted like shit. The world was going to hell, and he refused to be a part of it any longer. He took pocket money, credit card, bank card, grabbed a few important things he couldn't live with out and jumped into his Range Rover than hit the open street, never looking back. He was searching for something 'real', a true emotion or something genuine in his life, and he would just keep going until he found it. 

***

She had applied for the cook position at a 'Mel's Bar-B-Q' and had gotten hired immediately for the waitress position. She didn't care, it was a job and right now she had a whole life to rebuild. She had actually been lucky on the apartment; she had literally stumbled across the 'for rent' sign on her way back from getting her job, stubbing her toe. The woman who owned it was there showing it to a couple who were not interested because of the rough exterior.

She actually liked it, its appeal was not instantly visible, but on second look, one could see the character and history the huge old house had. She wrote a check for the woman on the spot. 

***

He had been driving for days and was having the time of his life. He was alone for the 1st time in along time, his mother used to say it was important to take time for yourself every now and than. He drove with the windows down; stereo blasting as loud as it would go, singing as loud as he could. He felt free; there was no pressure, no demands. He didn't even care when he dropped nacho cheese on his custom made imported Italian leather seats, a week ago he would have freaked out. How the hell had a vehicle become the most important thing in his life? He was sick of his own standards, his carefully scheduled routine, and his freakish neatness. He used to be messy once, along time ago. His mother always said a little dirt was necessary for a truly clean mind.


*** 

Despite Lyndsy and Luci begging her to wait another night, she went to stay at her new apartment. She had to get it over with. So she sat there, in her bare, wall-to-wall whitewashed apartment. The night sky cast a grey shadow over the vacant room. She wished she had her things, her mother's things from New Orleans. She leaned back against the living room wall, her mind racing with at least three million thoughts at once. She had a migraine by sunrise, but was happy to see the sun. It had been a horrible, sleepless night, one of the longest of her life, and she was thankful it was finally over. 

When Luci got the call it was the perfect excuse to go see Mimi. They had agreed to give her a little space, since she swore she needed it, but they were her friends and knew what was best for her.

"The diner called they want you to come in tonight." Luci said as they were both scoping the place out. 

"I think you need to take a little time off before you jump into this job," Lyndsy said. 

"No, I need this job." 

"Let us take care of you for a month, Mi," Luci pleaded. 

"No." 

It was devastating for them to see her like this. She was the strongest girl they knew; she was funny, loving, genuine and real. She never lied, she didn't start shit, she gave outstanding advice and she had always proved to be the best friend in a time of need, always there to listen to any problem. Even her appearance had changed drastically, her normally glowing caramel colored skin was dull and ashy, and her hazel eyes usually sparked with her emotions, now they looked dead. Her long black curls were tied in the same bun she had been wearing since the fire. They were sick with worry and feeling very helpless; and seeing the empty apartment that Mimi was in looked foreign, making it worse. 

"Just 30 days, relax and look for a better job." 

"The job is fine." 

"Fine? You're a master chef Nomi." Lyndsy only used her real name when she was serious. "You're not a waitress."

"Well this job will pay my bills, so that's enough." she said ending the subject.

***

She was exhausted when she got off, but she was glad for it, she needed to sleep to get her mind off things. Since it was only a block away, she walked home. She walked as fast as she could, damn near running. She walked into her apartment to see her friends there. She looked around the place, and felt the tears instantly welling in her eyes, they had completely redone it. 

"SURPRISE! This is your unofficial housewarming party." Lyndsy said. Mimi looked at the housewarming banner hanging from the wall, the balloons, the confetti; she could smell the food through the air. 

"Luci even made you a cake." 

"Lyndsy even helped cook the meal." Luci added. Lyndsy didn't cook, she ordered and Luci didn't cook, she burned. Mimi was in shock. 

"I can't believe this." she breathed looking at the living room. She had a couch and love seat; she recognized it was Lyndsy's older but expensive 'last year's furniture', the matching coffee table, a TV, a few plants, and a small entertainment center. 

"I got you another Aloe Vera plant," Luci handed her the small plant. "I know it's not like your mom's but-" 

"It's perfect." Mimi was holding back her tears. 

They had gone through her whole house; she had a gorgeous bed and dresser, towels, dishes, pots and pans, blankets sheets, kitchen table with 3 chairs. Lyndsy even went through her extensive and expensive wardrobe and gave her all of her 'last season' clothes.

They drank cheap wine, dined on wings, fries, cake, and ice cream while they talked and laughed until early morning. Mimi had plastered on a fake smile and really tried to get into the little party, but she just couldn't.

She sat on her bed after everyone had left for the night and looked around her, her friends were beyond amazing, and she felt guilty and terrible, but she still couldn't help but feel so strange about all of this. She was proud and had never taken any handouts, even when her mother died. it came naturally, she remembered her mother had refused all financial and emotional help when her father died. 

She used to have her own personality, her own style, and her own things. Now everything she owned was someone else's. She'd be wearing fancy expensive clothes that Lyndsy was infamous for. She felt like a fraud, she felt foreign in her own skin. She was alive and well and thankful, but she had no idea who she was anymore. 

***

The rain was relentless, it had just come out of no where, blinding him, his windshield impossible to see out of. The tires squealed as he almost lost control; he hit the breaks than found himself in someone's front yard and a foot from a woman who stood soaked glaring at him from under a large multi colored raincoat.

"Are you out of your mind!?" she yelled seeing only a Yankees baseball hat through the windshield. This guy was nuts, he almost killed her, but even worse, she was going to be late for work again and she was already on thin ice with Mel. She saw the guy getting out of the car and with the mood she was in she would have loved nothing more than to take an extra minute to cuss him out, but she had to go, so she stomped her foot and started walking away very fast.

"Wait!" he said, getting out of his car, watching her turn her head around quick as she continued her fast pace. Her face was still hidden under the huge hood of her rain jacket.

He stepped around to the front of his car knowing damn well he had hit something, still thanking God he had not hit that girl. He looked down to see the evidence; a 'for rent' sign under his tire. He looked up at the large beat-up house, it reminded him of somewhere but he wasn't sure where. It seemed almost eerily gothic in the gray haze of the rain. He looked back down at the 'for rent' sign, the number was visible. He looked back up at the house one more time; there was just something about it. "If you don't know where you're going, sometimes it's best to stay were you're at." he said under his breath. It would just have to do for now. 

"Are you alright dear?" An older woman walked towards him, almost dwarfed by her huge red umbrella, "I'm alright, thanks. But I wrecked the sign." 

"Oh, no problem at all dear so long as no ones hurt. Besides I shouldn't have put it so close to the street, we're just trying hard to rent it out." 

What was the chance? 

"You're renting it?" 

"Yes, we own the two houses here, we live next door, me and my husband Jim." she smiled.

"Do you have time to show it real quick?" 

"Yes I sure do, I have all the time in the world." 

It was huge on the inside; the house had been divided into two separate apartments, with a shared basement that had a free washer and dryer for the tenants. She said he had a neighbor but she was rarely home since she worked all the time. 

He handed her cash and she handed him the keys immediately. He went inside and sat on the empty living room floor wondering what the hell he was doing. This time last week he was living in the lap of luxury, today he was in an empty apartment he had rashly rented. He had no idea where he was, didn't even know the state but he was renting an apartment here. 

He was losing his mind.

***

She was furious, as if it wasn't bad enough she was already running late, or that she almost got run over by some maniac in a Yankees hat driving up her front yard, or that she was soaked to the bone and her boss was bitching because she was late, or that she was to late to change her soaked clothes and she had to work in them until they dried or she got off, which ever came first. Now she had to wait on the Emerson family, and all of their six extremely messy and destructive children. She was having a horrible night, she just wanted to go home and sleep. 

***

He hated having to hide, but if he wanted peace he had no choice, even with a hat and sunglasses it was possible for him to be recognized. He looked in the bathroom mirror his kit sitting on the sink before him. He had been letting his beard grow all week and it was already thick, it was always the perfect disguise, it seriously altered his appearance. He grabbed the clippers than proceeded to shave the inky locks from the top of his head. When he finished he looked up and ran his hand over his new buzz cut. He put in dark contacts over his pale blue eyes than put on a small pair of reading glasses and his Yankees hat back on to pull off the look. He looked in the mirror, nobody would ever recognize him; he barely recognized himself. 

***

The kids had left the worse mess she had ever seen; there was chili everywhere, crushed biscuits on the seats, tables, one stuffed in an overflowing cup of chocolate milk. She needed to sleep, she wanted to curl up in a booth and pass out, but she heard Mrs. Klein, the little old lady who came at the same time everyday, ordered the same thing everyday and sent it back at least three times because it was never done right. She had taken a special disliking to Mimi, and left her only 1 penny for a tip everyday, but since she religiously sat in her section, she had no choice but to wait on her. The other girls refused to, she had done the same thing to each of them. 

***

It was a small diner, just a few blocks from his apartment. Only a few people were inside and they all looked when he entered. He felt a moment of that familiar 'oh shit they recognize me' feeling, but to his relief they went back to what they were doing, so he went and sat down. 

"What can I get for you tonight sir." The waitress came out of nowhere; he looked up to see her, she wore black rimmed glasses not to much unlike the ones he wore, her dark hair was pulled back very tight, she wore a huge uniform that concealed her shape, and she was beautiful, absolutely stunning. She had hazel cat eyes rimmed with thick black lashes, and her full lips were begging him to kiss them.

"What do you recommend?"

She finally looked up from the small notepad she had, her fake half smile vanished immediately when she saw the Yankees hat. She looked out the window to see the Range Rover that had almost squashed her. 

"You!" she pointed her finger at him, almost directly aligned with his aquiline nose


Luck Ch. 01



"Me?" he stared back at her, a bemused look on his face.

"It was you, you almost ran me over with your car!" Her eyes snapped behind the glasses.

"That was you?" he would have never known, she was so hidden by that god-awful raincoat. "I'm sorry, I was-." he started before she cut him off. 

"Sorry? I'm still damp from that wave your tires splashed me!" She had been uncomfortable all damn night, her shoes still squished with each step. 

"The rain blinded me, I couldn't see anything, I thought that was it for me to," he smiled awkwardly, "I'm really sorry, let me make it up to you, let me buy you dinner." She looked at him, ready to be mad and argue, still pissed, still damp, but he was nice, cute as hell and she could tell he was sincere.

"No, but I accept your apology," she smiled a little. She looked over to see if the ever-present Mel was watching, and when she saw he wasn't, she leaned down to him a little and said with a grin, "The chili is the only thing fresh in this diner." 

"The chili and a coffee, then," he grinned winsomely.

"Be right up." she said and was gone.

She was beyond exhausted; she could barely keep her eyes open. She put the chili in the bowl, missing the sign that said chili needed to be warmed up; she filled the soda he didn't order, forgot about his coffee, grabbed the cold chili and went towards the table. She went to sit the chili down and it spilled all over his chest. He jumped up and she gasped than dumped the glass of soda down his chest, hoping it would cool it off. Than grabbed a handful of napkins, to dry him off, "I'm sorry." she whispered, close to him. Her innocent actions of trying to dry him off, rubbing him with handfuls of napkins had his cock hard. 

Well Mel had seen it all and was actually glad; he was ready to fire the girl already. Who was she to make suggestions on his chili? He was Mel; he was the master of chili and Bar-B-Q. It was her third spill today; he told her one more spill or if she was tardy once more, she was fired.

"Man! Are you alright?" Mel came over, fussing over his customer, than turned and glared at her "Mimi your gone." now she was never one to lie, but she couldn't stop herself, she needed this damn job!

"It was him, he spilled it!" she lied, instantly feeling guilty and a little shamed. 

"Me?" Yankees Cap looked at her, "You came out of nowhere attacking me with chili!" he joked. 

"You attacked him?! Oh sir, I'm so sorry! Are you burnt?" 

"No it wasn't even hot." he tried to help but watched as Mel looked at her and frowned.

"Not hot? Mel is famous for his chili, freshly prepared, fresh from the stove chili; Mel does not sell cool chili! The sign says hot chili! HOT!!!" he pointed to the little neon sign in the window that read 'hot chili'. 

So normally she wasn't such a bitch, but today had just been a bad day, hell the whole month had been crappy and her nerves had finally caught up with her. 

"No, Mel is known for extreme bouts of diarrhea, bouts of severe reflux and the complete break down of the bowels!" 

"Why you little-" Mel fumed as she turned and walked away. "Where are you going? That suit belongs to me."

"I'll send it to you." she snapped. 

"You didn't have to fire her, it was an honest mistake." he said, still smiling to himself, the girl had spunk. 

"No, that girl is the worst waitress I've ever had, she is difficult, destructive-" he turned away from him as Mel continued to talk, and left the restaurant. He went straight after her. 

"Hey, hold on." 

"Go away," she snapped, 

"Look, I'm sorry." he said not sure why he was apologizing now, but seeing the pretty girl was obviously stressed and his little 'run-in' with her had probably not helped. 

"No your not, why should you be, you don't care it's not your job." she spat out, not sure why she was yelling at him, she was just so frustrated!

"You just threw me off when you blamed it on me." 

"You think I like lying just to keep a shitty job I don't like?! No I don't!" 

"If you hate it so much, why still work there?" he said.

"Because I need a job." 

"You need to be happy." She stopped and turned to face him, 

"I don't have time for happiness, I have bills to pay." she snapped. 

"Here." He went into his pocket and pulled out a fifty and handed it to her. She snatched it, balled it up, and threw it at his chest. Then she started walking away very fast. He shouldn't feel bad, it wasn't his problem, he tried to help but she didn't want it. He watched her storm off, walking hard, those lush hips swaying back and forth just as hard. He took a deep breath; he would just have to pick up some burgers. 

With her headphones cranking Erykah Badu as loud as they would go, she danced around her house in a little lemon-colored tank top and short sweat shorts. It was laundry day, so with her limited wardrobe, she had to wash everything she owned, including the clothes on her back. Lyndsy had given her a lot of dresses and skirts but only a few pairs of jeans. She carried her laundry basket down to the basement. It was the only thing she didn't like about the place, the basement was creepy and dark, even with the lamp lit. She rushed down to put the laundry in, working as fast as she could. Mimi ran back up the steps to the door leading to her apartment and froze; it was locked. She cursed, if she had just paid a little more attention, she knew that lock was tricky, the woman had told her at least three times to be careful not to get locked down here. Well she wasn't standing around to wait for anyone. She ran up the other set of stairs leading to the only other way out of the basement, the vacant apartment next door. She prayed it was unlocked. She did a little cheer when it opened; being locked down there for God knows how long not something she was prepared for. The apartment had the exact same layout as hers, just the opposite, so she walked quickly to the door. She tried to open it, but it was locked.

"Shit!" she hissed. 

"Hey!" she heard a man's voice. Mimi froze for a second than tried desperately to unlock it as she heard footsteps getting closer. But the damn thing wouldn't budge!

"Look I'm sorry, I locked-" she froze as she turned around. 

"You!" she exclaimed, the surprise on seeing Yankees Cap evident.

"No, actually my name is not 'you'." he smiled that devastating smile. 

"What are you doing here?" she blurted. 

"I rent this apartment. The question is, what are you doing in my apartment?" he held his grin.

"I got locked in the basement." She took a step back and bumped the door with her butt; he was just way to close. That kind of sex appeal was just too much for a 22-year-old virgin. He felt it too, the heat radiating from her body, the familiar flush of her caramel skin. Her body was amazing! Her curves were revealed by the tank top and shorts. He was a sucker for curvy women, he always had been! He knew he could get lost in her curves especially, her full round breasts, that tiny waist, her lush full hips, and that ass- DAMN! He wanted her. 

"When did you start renting?" 

"The day I almost crashed into you." He took a step closer, but she was as far back as she could go. That's when she looked down realizing he was only in his boxers, his massive chest, his pale skin dusted with black hair that trailed down to his waistband. She turned around quick, fumbling with the lock; she had to get the hell out of here! 

"Here, let me help, its tricky." he said, reaching across her, way too close; she could almost feel him touching her, that 1/4 inch gap between them had enough heat to catch both their shorts on fire. He finally got it unlocked and she said, "Thanks," quick before she opened the door forcing her body back hard against his. She could feel him hard against her. He gripped her hips to balance her out of instinct, loving the feel of her body. She could feel the heat from his hands penetrate to her bones and she shivered before she slipped out of the door, than sprinted through the small hall separating their apartments, slamming the door behind as she went into hers. She leaned back against the door, panting, her skin still tingling where his hands had been. She released a deep breath she was not aware she had been holding, promising herself that his moving in would have no effect on her.

'What are you worried about? You don't even know his name,' she told herself firmly.

He shut his door, staring at it with a grin. He was glad he crashed into the yard. He was beginning to like it here. 

To be continued....



Luck Ch. 02



Academy award winner- ARIES STARK- missing' 

It was on the front page of every paper and magazine in America; it was top story on every news channel. It was already being called the scandal of the century. The mysterious 'without a trace' disappearance of one of the highest ranked celebrities had the media in a frenzied uproar. There were rewards for sightings, pictures, or any source of information, no matter how minute, surrounding his disappearance. 

There were hundreds of '1-800-SEEN-ARIES?' toll free numbers. There had been sightings of him from France to Japan to Brooklyn. The rumors were the worse; the fabrications were spreading like wild fire, and there were millions of different theories and scenarios that ranged from mafia related, to a religious calling, to plain, old-fashioned murder. There was even a rumor that he had sold his soul to the devil for his fame and was now traveling with a murderous cult. 

*** 

Lona Lutz stood in front of the press forcing her overly joyed, gleeful smile of satisfaction to remain hidden behind her false mask of sorrow. There were over 100 journalists surrounding her, all wanting to hear her story. The 6ft3 brunette was getting high off the flashing camera bulbs and she was close to orgasm with all the attention she was getting. She put the thick tissue in her hand up to her eye. She had a tiny vile of fake tears hidden deep inside the tissue for when her eyes dried out . With precise moves, no one would ever know what she was not really crying. 

"We were going to get married." she lied with a deep sigh . "That's why I am offering a million dollar reward for his safe return home to me." she looked as sad as she could, still managing to flirtatiously bat her eyes towards the camera. "I miss him so badly," she cried the lie dramatically, her limited acting skills really put to the test. 

In all honesty, she was having the time of her life now that he was gone. Truth was, his sudden and mysterious disappearance was really working to her advantage on many different levels, she had unlimited use of his mansions, access to one of his bank accounts and all the press she could ask for. The publicity was the best part, she was a self obsessed, narcissistic, attention junkie, so of course she was working the press for all it was worth, she was going to get every last second of her 15 minutes of fame. 

She had the advantage, she was the last person to see Aries alive, and any piece of information of his 'last days' was top priority and more valuable than gold, so naturally her info and immediate updates of his 'possible' where abouts made her center stage. They jumped on any lie she told them, and she was handing out lies like she handed out her business card. She was even planting rumors about a possible pregnancy, which was actually a possible reality. She was the star again, and she was thriving, secretly praying Aries never came back. 

*** 

He was trying to avoid any reminder of that life, but it was becoming impossible, news of his disappearance and his pictures were plastered everywhere. With all the chaos in the world today, why was his story the main focus? Who cared where he went? What he did? He was only a man, the same as any other man out there. He just wanted a normal life, he wanted to be Jack fuckin' Smith, the 'happy to be unknown' man from down the street. 

*** 

Mimi had spent the next few days searching desperately for a job and desperately trying to avoid her new neighbor. 

At this point she was unsuccessful in both. 

She had almost collided with the black-haired hunk at the mailbox. He smiled, and that damn smile made her want to forget all her rules, morals, her deep superstitions and drag him into her apartment and learn first hand about the birds and the bees. Instead, she kept her head down, trying not to look at him than grumbled a good morning before stalking back to her apartment. She refused to take any unnecessary chances, if she even looked at him something bad might happen. 

Mimi had applied to every fast food joint, restaurant, grocery store and a slew of assorted odd jobs available in town and still had found nothing. Her anxieties were rising and her stress level was reaching its peak. Everything seemed to finally be catching up to her and she was fighting hard to keep it restrained and keep herself rational and optimistic. She felt like running in the middle of a deep forest and screaming until her head exploded! She wanted to punch trees and stomp the ground until it cracked! But that display of emotion was a weakness she refused to possess. So she walked around like a zombie, trying to keep her scattered mind clear and her sleep deprived body moving. 

*** 

Luci and Lyndsy were very worried, they tried not to let her be out of their sight for to long. It was just a matter of time before that carefully held control over her emotions slipped, and they were waiting for it. They wanted to make sure they were there for her when it happened. With all their good intentions they did not realize the added pressure they were putting on her with their new plan to shock her into letting go of the emotion that was paralyzing her. Luci had read in some magazine that retelling horrific details could possibly make her finally snap, talk about it and get it off her conscience. They loved her and even though they hated doing it, they would just have to hurt her if it would help her. 

*** 

Mimi had just finally fallen asleep when she sat up abruptly in the bed, her body reacting instantly to the high pitched fire alarm echoing through her apartment. She felt that familiar fear creeping up her back, freezing her bones and paralyzing her soul. She couldn't move, her body was shaking and she instantly began to sweat. Try as she might, she could not make her body move from the bed. The smoke was overwhelming her, making the large dark room shrink smaller around her, the speeding beat of her heart pounding in her ears. 

Everything came rushing back to her at once, her place, her parents, her cat, her burning restaurant and home. With no other thought she dove from the bed sprinting to the front door, than straight outside, almost colliding with her neighbor. He was waving his front door, trying to fan the smoke out of his apartment. 

"You!" she pointed an angry finger at him. 

Great! This was just what he needed, another reason for this girl to hate him. He had planned to actually invite her out to lunch and apologize, it made sense since they were neighbors and hating your neighbor made for a very unstable living environment. He knew she had been avoiding him, he saw the look on her face when he tried to talk to her at the mailboxes and she bolted off. He wasn't used to women reacting like that to him, he also was not used to having bad luck when it came to women. But lucky, lucky him, to add to their already hazardous relationship, and her below negative opinion of him, now she had caught him red handed with a smoke filled apartment. 

"It's out-" 

"You did this didn't you." Mimi almost growled. 

"Yea, i-" 

"Your out to get me, aren't you?!" she was serious, but her eyes were slightly wild, a definite dear in headlights look. 

"It was one of those oven dinners-" 

"Your the devil-" Mimi said accusingly, delirious from the panic attack that was about to take over her. 

"No- 

"The grim fucking reaper." she took a step back, trying to breath air into her deprived lungs, the room getting dimmer. 

"No, i-" he took a step towards her, 

"No, you stay back" she put her hands up to ward him off. "Bad things happen when your near." the room started to spin around her, the smoke thick in her lungs, she was going to pass out. He saw it and was ready to catch her if she went down, but she was trying to back away and had backed her self against the wall. 

"Calm down." 

"Are you trying to kill me?" she cried, leaning against the wall for support. 

"I fell asleep with it in the oven-" 

"Fell asleep?" she stood up straight, not believing her ears "ASLEEP?!" she roared stepping closer, becoming more alert with the knowledge that her life may possibly be in the hands of a knuckle head who falls asleep with food in the oven "You don't close your eyes with the oven on!" 

"I know, I-" 

"Do you not know the seriousness of fire? What it can do? Did no one teach you about fire safety?!" she was yelling, hysterical, thinking of her life just burning away again. Sure she wasn't happy with her new life, it was taking alot of getting used to, she still wasn't comfortable in her own skin, but it was hers. Just like the cherished items of her previous life, memories that had been reduced to a thick soot clinging to the city street, it was all she had. She could not handle having to start over again, and no way in hell did she want to go through another fire! She would do anything to prevent it. 

"Look-" 

"No, you look, I have enough bad luck of my own, i don't need yours on top of it. Every time your near me something terrible happens," she pointed her finger at him again, "Your jinxed, you stay the hell away, your a serious hazard to my well being." she backed away towards the front door. 

"I'm sorry." he said. 

"Yea, well be sorry from far, far, FARRR away!" she backed out of the front door, "AND USE THE DAMN MICROWAVE!" she yelled, with a glare, slamming the door as she went outside. 

*** 

He just couldn't sleep, he was rock hard, his lungs were still filled with smoke and he could just not get her reaction out of his head. 

Even though she had cussed him out and thought he was the devil, she was still one of the sexiest creatures he had ever encountered, he wondered if she had that much passion when it came to sex. She was like a hot tempered little hell cat, with killer curves and a body that had to have been made from pure sin to provoke such a lust. 

She was teasing him, tempting him, hating him, fearing him, he wasn't sure if he wanted to put her across his knee for talking to him like that or kiss those perfect full lips until she calmed down or find out what the hell was really at the bottom of her fear. He felt guilty for scarring her so bad, he knew by her reaction that some way or some how she had a bad brush with fire, it was all over her face. 

Needing to think, and his smoky apartment just to stifling, he grabbed a beer, went outback and sprawled out on one of the lawn chairs on their adjoining porch. How the hell did he expect to sleep tonight with that curvy little minx, hating him from across the hall? It was just too much, he was seriously attracted to someone who was afraid to be near him. He hadn't had an attraction for a woman like this since he was a teenager, and even than it wasn't this strong. 

Sex had become a routine, just something that his body constantly demanded, with no more emotion than eating food when hungry, or sleeping when tired. He had tried for years to feel something, ANYTHING. He had experimented a lot of different, willing women, spent insane amounts of money for new things, just trying to spark something in him, some type of feeling or emotion, anything that chipped at his stony numbness. Nothing had worked. 

So now just when he stopped looking for it, convinced it didn't exist, and far, far, far away from home, in the middle of nowhere, he was beginning to feel it for free. 

*** 

It was 3:00 in the morning and Mimi still couldn't get back to sleep. The long walk she took didn't even help, that false alarm had freaked her out more than she realized! When she finally got home and tried to lay down, she just kept getting up and checking things, sniffing the air. Her body felt electrically wired, her adrenaline still pumped and the lingering smoke made her remember the images she had been trying to block out of her mind. 

She told herself she despised the man across the hall for his hazardous ways, so why was the very thought of him making her tingle from head to toe? 

It was insanity! What fool hearted, idiot was attracted to a constant source of bad luck? Had she become a glutton for punishment? Didn't she have enough bad luck already? WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH HER??? 

THE MAN WAS JINXED!!! 

or was she? 

She went to her closet and stripped naked, throwing on the only bathing suit she owned, a shimmery gold, micro mini, string bikini Lyndsey had picked out for her. Before she would have never worn something so revealing, but now she didn't care how skimpy it was, she needed to get out of this apartment immediately! She needed tons of fresh air, no walls and a vigorous swim to help her tame her raging emotions! 

*** 

When the pool lights came on he looked up from his very comfortable position on the back porch and saw the outline of her figure going down the steps. As she walked closer to the lights, he saw her lush behind clearly before she dove into the pool. He watched her silently; she was swimming like the devil was after her, obviously trying to clear her mind. 

He had no idea what possessed him to walk down by the pool, but he couldn't't stop himself, he was drawn to her. He stood close to the edge. Looking down, he could watch her swim all day, her body was magnificent, her moves so precise, so even, so angry.  

She stopped when she saw him, swimming slowly to the ladder, her cautious eyes never leaving his. 

He watched her climb out of the pool. He did a silent appreciation for being able to secretly adore that luscious body in that barely there bikini. He held the groan forming in the back of his throat. 

She looked like a distressed, earth bound goddess, the moon light bouncing off curves, her long raven locks falling wildly around her, the scandalous gold bikini made her appear nude in the pale light. Her heavy round breasts stood proud and perky, jutting towards him, and he would do anything to pull back the small triangles that were just covering her nipples. 

"Are you OK?" he asked, seeing the thick emotion she was holding back, ready to escape. 

"Yea, I'm alright." Mimi lied, her eyes locking with his, his eyes so sincere and so full of comfort, she was caught and before she was even aware of what she was doing, she was yelling. "No! I'm not OK! I lost everything I ever owned in my entire life in a fire," she exploded, "A STUPID FUCKING FAULTY STOVE! I lost my cafe, the best cat in the ENTIRE world, ALL of my memories! Now I have to work shitty jobs with shittier pay , if I could keep a job, WHICH I CAN'T! I owe rent; I hate my bare, boring, all-white, hand-me-down apartment! My friends who I love dearly are smothering me and begging me to talk about something I don't even want to THINK about, let alone discuss it!" she ranted, stepping towards him. "I can't cook anymore, I'm starving but I can't eat, I'm exhausted but I can't sleep, I have a new neighbor who I think is secretly trying to kill me" she said stepping a little closer to him. "And now I'm out here telling him all the crazy drama of my life at three o'clock in the morning," she shook her head, realizing what she had just done. 

"A stranger who has added to your stress and who is now intruding on your private time." he said apologetically. She looked at him, she almost felt bad, she couldn't really blame him for her misfortune. 

"Your not intruding." she took a tiny step closer, "it's your pool to." he stayed still, afraid to take a step towards her and freak her out. "I'm sorry for dumping all my problems on you." she bit her bottom lip, standing so close, he wanted to kiss her so bad! 

"Don't be, it sounded like you needed to get it out." 

"I guess." she whispered, feeling herself sway towards him, "I'm sorry I called you the devil." she was so close, her nipples almost touched him and he was so tempted to run his fingers over them. He couldn't help himself, he leaned down slowly, his lips touching hers ever so lightly. 

The moment they made contact it sent a jolt straight through her body, crashing so hard it brought her back to reality, 

"I better go." she gasped nervously than pulling back fast, than turned around running to her back door. She shut it hard, than locked it faster. 

What the hell was wrong with her? She saw first hand what love did in the end, she watched her mother commit a slow suicide after her fathers death. She had lost to much already, she didn't want someone else to love just to eventually loose them. Everyone she truly, deeply loved had left, and she refused to ever feel the sharp pains of love again! 

What she needed to do was find a job and move out of this building, being around him was unwise and unhealthy on so many different levels. He was to handsome, to nice, to tempting and to dangerous, she could not be any where near him. He made her forget her defenses and loose herself into an emotion she could not handle and was not comfortable even feeling. 

Mimi ran straight to her room and jumped under the covers, if she couldn't have him in real life, she would have him in her fantasy! She slid her hand down to the intense tingling between her legs. 

*** 

He watched her walk up the steps and all he wanted to do was yell for her to come back. He knew something was wrong, but he had no idea how serious her situation really was. He admired her strength; she was a survivor who was still trying to survive. All she wanted was for everything to be normal and simple again, he could definitely relate. He wanted her more now than even he could comprehend, he wanted to help her, but he knew her pride would not allow a hand out. He had way to much money not to be able to help this beautiful girl out of a bad situation. 

He had to think of a way to do it and not insult her, he needed a solid plan. 

*** 

The next morning he found himself standing in front of her door rehearsing his apology. 

Him, Aries Stark, super actor, had to rehearse to apologize to a girl. 

He knocked on her door and she opened it, wearing a cream colored robe with bright colored cherry blossoms printed on the silk. 

"I'm sorry for almost running you over, helping you get fired, moving next door to you, smoking you out of your apartment, and trying to kiss you." he blurted out before she told him to get lost, handing her a sad looking little daisy from the yard. Mimi smiled ear to ear, taking the little flower in her hand. 

"And I'm sorry for spilling chili on you, dumping soda on you, yelling at you accusing you of planning my murder, calling you the devil, being friends with the grim reaper and for cursing you with a foul case of small pox." 

"You never cursed me with small pox." his grin started to spread. 

"Oops." she smiled. 

"At least the chili was cold." he grinned, than in a voice that sounded exactly like Mel's he mimicked him, "Mel does not serve cold chili!" they both laughed hard, teasing Mel for the next few minutes. 

Mimi hadn't laughed in a long time and it felt good, it was like more weight was coming off her shoulders, freeing her sinking soul. 

Lyndsy sashayed in the front door, than stopped dead in her tracks, dramatic look of shock and all. She hadn't see Mimi laugh since the fire, this was a good sign! 

"Just in time for the party!" she said to him, smiling ear to ear, her perfectly white, unbelievably even $15,000 teeth glowing, "I brought Chinese." she held up two large bags. 

"And I got the champagne." Luci came in the door behind her, holding up a bag of assorted flavors of champagne. Aries and Mimi smiled at Luci, than he turned back to her, 

"Well, have a good night." he said smiling, ready to slip back into his apartment. 

"Where are you going? I know your going to help us eat ALL this food." Lyndsy handed a bag of food to him, he took it. 

"As usual, she bought to much." Luci added. 

"I can never decide what I want." she shrugged. 




Luck Ch. 02



"I was actually going to just throw in one of those oven dinners." 

"NO!" Mimi objected, "didn't you do enough damage with those dinners last night, oven master." Mimi grinned and he smiled ear to ear, obviously enchanted. Lyndsy was damn near shaking with excitement, even though she and Luci stayed silent, watching the exchange between the two. Mimi had not used sarcasm since the fire, this was way to good to pass up. 

"No arguments, your coming with us." Lyndsy took his arm and took him into Mimi's apartment. 

*** 

"So whats your name?" she asked, sitting close to him on her couch, drinking her 2ND glass of champagne. he looked deep into her eyes, frowning a little, after all this, they still didn't know each others names, he pushed and errant curl that had escaped from her ponytail behind her ear. He had left because he felt everything in his life was a lie, an elaborate hoax and he wanted to start over with true 100% honesty, true meaningful relationships with absolutely no lies. He really didn't want to start off their new friendship with a lie, for some strange reason she was the last person he ever wanted to lie to. But if he told her his real name, she might put 2 and 2 together, her friends had already commented more than once how familiar he looked. 

"Jack." he lied, feeling guilty again. 

"Jack." she repeated the name, it felt wrong on her tongue, "it doesn't fit." she said. 

"Whats your name?" he changed the subject, secretly liking that she could sense the truth about him. 

"Nomi, but everyone calls me Mimi." she looked at his dark eyes and wondered if he was wearing contacts. 

"Nomi." he rolled the word on his tongue, loving it, "it fits." 

*** 

"It's late, I better go." Aries said standing up, "besides I can't remember if I put that dinner in the oven or not." he grinned and Mimi busted out laughing, following him to her door. 

"Here-" Mimi passed him her seventh glass of champagne, when he raised a brow she said, "for later." her little giggle tickled him to the very soul, deepening his smile, "and just in case it's smoking in the oven, you can dump this on it." she hiccuped. He was smiling so hard the corners of his mouth ached, he took the glass brushing his hand across hers. 

"Thank you." he said, his voice low and husky, than he dipped his head and kissed her cheek. She took a deep breath and held it, that simple innocent kiss doing disturbing things to Mimi's virginal body, she felt the full on soak of her pantie's, her mouth slightly parted, her head beginning to spin again. He turned and walked away before he slid his tongue between those parted lips. 

Lyndsy and Luci were trying to be quiet enough that the two at the door completely forgot they were there. At one point they held their breath as he went in for the kiss, delighted but disappointed it was on the cheek. Lyndsy was hoping he would just grab her and lay one on her. 

She shut the door looking at it for a second, than walked over to the couch, plopping down between them. 

"He seems nice." Luci said sitting to her left, looking at her, moving closer. 

"Real nice." Lyndsy said from her right. 

"Yea." Mimi thought about that kiss on her cheek, something so innocent and it had taken her to a whole other level, she let a little sigh escape. 

"And cute." Luci tested her. 

"Very cute." Lyndsy added, both girls studying her reaction. 

"Yea." she said with the dreamiest look on her face that made both her friends smile. Lyndsy knew better than to push things with Mimi, she was a stubborn one, she decided to play it cool and mention the hunk across the hall again before she suspected what they were about. 

*** 

She was going nuts, she had already masturbated twice, and not some quick little fix, it was a full on deep tissue masturbation, her fingers felt crippled! She was fighting that inner demon, that little voice in her head that was screaming at her to go next door and just kiss the man! 

She paced, she fretted, fussed, whined, cursed herself for her weakness, and kept drinking from the strawberry champagne bottle. 

She had to get out of this apartment, she felt like a caged, over sexed animal, her body just would not let her forget him for a second. 

*** 

Aries was up thinking about her, he had jacked off his sore, but still hard dick to no relief. He saw the dim pool light come on , he went to his kitchen and looked out the blinds on his window. He watched Mimi go to the edge of the pool, slipping her shirt off and tossing it to the ground, she tugged her jeans down her lush hips, revealing a tiny pair of lace half and half's same peach color as the bra. She sat on the edge of the pool for a second, taking another sip from the bottle in her hand, than she slipped into the water. 

He felt like a pervert standing here watching her, pulling his cock out of the slit in his boxers, watching her swim, imagining himself in the water with her, there were so many things he wanted to do to her. He stroked himself for the third time that night, the sensation climbing, than bursting as he watched her get out of the water and walk towards the back porch, he stepped away from the window so she wouldn't see him, cumm flying all over his kitchen floor. He'd just have to clean it up in the morning, right now, he had to force himself to sleep before he went back over to her apartment. 

*** 

Mimi walked very slowly to her back door, just knowing he was close was making her crazy, her whole body on alert, hardening to attention, in tuned to his. he was right there, that door, that ugly off line large wooden door would lead her to him. She could feel him, smell him, sense him and before she even knew what she was doing, she was knocking on his back door. 

He heard the knock, his heart skipping 3 beats as he ran back out to the kitchen and opened his door. 

There she stood, looking so beautiful, the half naked goddess glowing in the dark night sky behind her and dripping water all over the floor. Aries was actually jealous of the moon and how it's beams were able to secretly caress her in a way he longed to. He opened the door all the way, standing back to let her in, she walked up to him, not saying a word. She stood close enough for the tips of her breasts to touch him, looking up at him, entranced, she raised to her tiptoes, sliding her hands up the sides of his face, and pulling his head down to her, slowly letting her lips touch his, pressing a little harder, and than FINALLY kissing him! 

He could not believe it, he though he would cumm again just from the touch of her lips. He was instantly over whelmed and over zealous, grabbing her, holding her tight, slipping his tongue between her closed lips, squeezing her to him. He wanted to hold her so close it wasn't physically possible. He just couldn't get enough, fast enough. He had waited to long for her, fantasizing about her, constantly thinking about her. 

It was too much, too fast! She was ready to cry and scream and laugh. Her body doing things it had never done before, feeling things it had never felt before, her head thinking things she wasn't prepared for. Her head spinning and her pelvic bone was pushing so hard against him she feared it might crack. She knew she couldn't do this, she wasn't ready yet. This was too quick and way too soon. 

"I- I can't." She pulled away, her lips quivering as she backed up to his door, than turned and ran. 

He was still in a total state of shock. Had she just come over here soaking wet, kissing him, than left just as quickly as she came? Did he just let her leave? 

She ran in her back door, locking it than leaning against it, what was she doing? She had completely lost her mind! What had she started? What had she done? 

She had held onto her virginity like the last glass of water in a drought, so why did she want to say the hell with it? She was just starting to get her life somewhat in order. Today was the first day in a long time she didn't feel like crawling back in bed and crying, why would she risk it all? 

Love was the last thing she needed right now. Love was a curse, the worst luck of all for the one unfortunate enough to fall into the trap. But still, her old fashioned superstitions were just not holding up to this sudden craving her body had developed.  

Her mind was at war with her body! 

She slid her hand between her legs, sliding down the door to the floor. Her fingers would be paralyzed by morning, but right now, she couldn't care less. 

*** 

Detective Angus Leary was a hard ass son of a bitch. He also happened to be the best homicide detective in the state. He left no stone unturned, no lead uninvestigated, even the tiny pieces of junk that most would over look were analyzed as evidence. He had been on the force for over 40 years, he worked hard to get where he was, and he was proud! He always went with his gut and he followed it all the way to the top. 

Now at sixty-three, he was the head detective in an ultra elite section of California. He was ready for a peaceful retirement in a few days and want to enjoy life. He was ready to finally just relax and spend the rest of his days eating, loving his wife and his huge family. 

Everything changed the minute the body washed up on shore. Bodies didn't just turn up dead in this posh area of town, especially not fingerless bodies with no toes and smashed in teeth. 

"I got that missing persons report you asked for, sir." his assistant Benjamin Cruz strolled into his office. "Only one male missing from this area." Angus raised his brow. "You'll never guess who." He dropped the paper on the table. Angus looked at the picture on the report, his thick salt and peppered brow raising higher. 

The corpse had the same black hair as the missing person, the same pale eyes. 

"Bring me ALL the measurements from the corpse and height and weight from Aries Stark's last known physician," 

"Right away, sir." 



Luck Ch. 03



Det. Angus Leary looked at the evidence spread out on his desk before him, he had reviewed it again and again, but something was just not right. He was baffled, everything pointed to it being a positive match; the height, the weight, hair color, eye color and the fact that there was no other missing persons fitting this description anywhere in the area. Yet Angus could not shake that gut feeling that this corpse was NOT Aries Stark! 

He had learned early in his career that just because everything added up did not necessarily mean that the evidence was correct. Evidence could sometimes be tricky, like the holographic pictures you spend hours staring into, just to clearly see the image hiding in the mess. He also realized even earlier that most words had 3 meanings, coincidences usually boiled down to precise, premeditated planning and the most obvious answer could blind you to the truth if you didn't look hard enough. 

Most important, he knew above all that Miss Lona Lutz knew more than she was admitting to and he had all intentions of finding out. 

*** 

Mimi opened the door and felt a strange tingle in her belly when she saw Jack standing there. 

"Do you still need a job?" Aries asked. 

"Yes." she looked at him quizzically. 

"I need a cook for my restaurant." 

"Your restaurant?" 

"Yea," 

"You have a restaurant?" she questioned. 

"Yea," he did now, as of this morning he had signed the paperwork and the check, "can you start in the morning?" he asked. 

"Yea." she nodded still stunned. 

"9:00" he said and she nodded again before he turned around and walked in his apartment. 

She shut the door and sat on her couch dumbfounded. 

She had no idea he owned a restaurant. She thought about it for another minute before she walked over to his apartment and knocked on the door. 

"Your not doing this because I freaked out the other night and you feel sorry for me are you?" Mimi asked watching his expression. 

"No." he said honestly. 

"And you're not doing it because I kissed you right? I mean, that was an accident, I was drunk." she tried to keep her embarrassment from coming to the surface. 

"No, I just need a cook." he frowned a little. 

"OK," she smiled, "I'll be ready at 9." she turned and went into her apartment, leaving him to shut the door and sit on his couch worried. 

He thought for a second, women could be tricky sometimes, he hoped she didn't take his invitation wrong; he truly wanted to help her. He couldn't help it that he was attracted to her, but he wasn't doing it for that reason. 

He got up and went to her door. 

"I want you to know the only reason I asked is because your an amazing cook, the meal you cooked was the best meal I've ever had in my life," her lips split into the biggest smile she had ever smiled, as he warmed her heart with his words. He grinned at her beautiful bright smile, "9:00." 

"9." she nodded and went back into her apartment. He felt exhilaration as he sat on the couch. 

She could not stop smiling, than she felt a little disappointment in herself that she had doubted his obviously honorable intentions. She ran back over to his door. 

He opened it with a look of concern. 

"Sorry I misjudged your intentions," Mimi's smile went straight to his heart "and thank you very much." she couldn't help herself, she hugged him. He froze, trying to pull back a little, if he leaned in she would be able to feel his stiffening dick and she might rethink her apology. 

She misinterpreted it, and pulled away quick with a slight frown, "9:00" she turned and went back into her apartment. 

He shut the door with a curse, thinking she had pulled back so quickly because she felt his rampant hard on. 

*** 

"This place is amazing" she looked up at the ceiling, an intricate replica of a fiery sunset in a pale amber sky.

"I just bought it." Aries said, "your the 1st person I hired." he was standing behind her as she looked around the restaurant in awe, he was looking at her ass in awe. Curvy women were his weakness and this girl was his ultimate kryptonite.

"Shouldn't you have like a gourmet cook or something for a place like this?" she asked, her eye for detail on overload looking around the swanky restaurant. Everything screamed 'fragile and expensive', from the crystal, to the deep russet and chocolate Italian marble tiled floor. Even the thick silk rust colored curtains cost more than everything that was in her parents' cafe.

"I do," he smiled "you." 

"No, I mean someone that has like degrees and stuff." 

"You don't have degrees and your cooking is better than any of the expensive and over rated 'top' chefs of the world." 

"How do you know?" she grinned, "Tasted many famous chefs cooking lately?" 

"Just yours." they were locked in each other's eyes for a minute before she snapped out of it, remembering his reaction to her hug yesterday. 

"So when do you start the interviews?" she asked. 

"Did you hire and fire at your restaurant?" 

"You mean tiny cafe that could fit in this restaurant's bathroom? Yea, but on a MUCH smaller scale." 

"Think you could do it here?"

"Hire a full staff?" she looked at the large restaurant and tried to calculate how many staff members they would need. 

"Yea, think you can handle it?" he asked. 

"Of course." she nodded, she could handle anything when she put her mind to it. It was technically no different than increasing the servings for a recipe, do what you always do, just do it in bulk. 

"Than I leave it all up to you." he handed her the keys and an envelope. 

"What's this?" she asked her eyes wide looking at all the money inside the envelope. 

"Your advance." 

"But this is a lot of money." 

"This place is a lot of work." 

*** 

Angus stood at the huge glass paneled front door of Aries Stark's mansion, his partner Benjamin Cruz on the left side while he observed from the right. He wasn't entirely shocked to see the "grief stricken" Lona Lutz buck naked and riding a tied up gentleman right there on her missing fiancés water fountain in the middle of the main hall. 

"She just called me crying this morning, trying to see if it was her beloved fiancé lying stiff in the morgue." Angus shook his head. 

"Yea, she looks REAL worried." Ben grinned. 

Angus straightened up, standing directly in front of the door and knocked hard. 

"Miss Lutz, I'd like to ask you a few more questions." he frowned as Lona squealed and ran up the circular stairs to the right, leaving the bound guy just standing there looking stupid and confused for a second before he started to hop towards the identical set of stairs to the left. 

Angus and Ben looked at each other. 

"Possible motive." Angus said. 

"Jealous boyfriend, cheating fiancé." Ben added.

"I think we should come back," Angus turned to leave, "once we have a little more back ground info on the grieving fiancee." 

*** 

Mimi was amazing, she had the place up and running in 3 days, he could barely believe it. She had Luci and Marz working the kitchen with her and a full staff of hard working, reliable people. By that Saturday, they were opened for business and packed wall to wall with satisfied customers. They were leaving thanks and appreciation to the cook for such amazing foods that could delight the taste buds to the point of addiction. 

Aries stuck around the restaurant, he didn't have to, she had everything under control, but he just found himself wanting to hang around her, to be near her. He loved watching her multi task and he had discovered a new love, he loved watching her cook, he could watch her all day long. 

He especially loved the way she always fed him, making sure his plate was always full and he was never hungry. She even gave him samples of everything she cooked, wanting his honest opinion; he loved being her taste tester. It felt nice to have someone genuinely worry about his comfort. She cared because she wanted to, because she truly liked him, not for his fame or fortune, for him and only him. 

He almost told her the truth one evening as they closed up for the night, everyone was gone and she had just finished up in the kitchen... 

"I have something for you." Mimi smiled handing him a pie with a big J formed out of crust on top. Aries grinned ear to ear already knowing what it was, he had found yet another addiction, her caramel peach pie. It was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted and now she had made one just for him, complete with his false initial. 

He barely controlled the urge to kiss her and to keep his mouth shut and his identity a secret. One day he knew she would make him a pie with his real initial, a huge A, and he felt the most comforting thrill in the fact that he would finally be able to hear her call him by his true name. 

***

Mimi loved his reaction, she loved cooking for him, he would do all the oohs and awes just like her father would do when she cooked for her parents. She loved watching Jack eat, so she kept feeding him. She loved a man with a healthy appetite and Jack had a VERY healthy appetite. 

A few times she had to turn away, for some irrational reason, watching him devour his food filled her mind with deliciously wicked carnal images. 

What the hell was wrong with her? Since when did food sexually stimulate virgins? 

***. 

"I told you to lock the gate!" Lona hissed at Raul, her chauffeur, as she scrambled naked into her room, slamming the door behind them. 

"I'm sorry mistress, I got so excited I forgot." he hopped over to her, his bondage constricting his movements, he almost toppled over. 

"You are a sorry, pathetic sorry excuse for a slave!" she kicked him in the chest with her needle heeled stilettos and he fell over. "Because of your incompetence, now I have to explain to the police why I am fucking my chauffeur when I should be depressed and worrying about Aries!" she kicked him again. 

"PLEASE forgive me Mistress!" he cried pathetically. 

"Forgive? No. Punish? Yes." 

"Yes, please punish me, PLEASE!" he loved her cruel punishments. 

"I promise to," she walked over to her dresser and grabbed her cell phone out of her new $1500 purse she had bought with Aries credit card. "Now do I have to gag you or will you keep your mouth shut while I call my lawyer." she glared at him 

"I'll be quiet mistress." he said bowing his head and despite the possible disaster stirring in the air, she grinned maliciously at his submission. 

Raul was the perfect slave for her; he was obedient, reliable and as loyal as a little lap dog. He would do anything for his mistress, and always went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to her acting career. Publicity was the key to fame, not morals or ethics. Lona was not above having Raul slashing some tires, breaking some kneecaps, bribery, or murder... 

What ever kept her name in the paper! 

*** 

Darren was one of the first employees Mimi had hired, from his interview she had assumed he would be a hard, fast worker, but having been in the restaurant business most of her life she was familiar with slackers and Darren was definitely that. She was seriously debating whether to replace him; she had already spent the last 2 weeks making sure he got his duties done in a timely matter. Unfortunately, he was a natural flirt who thought himself a comedian, constantly cracking jokes. Mimi and Luci, now her right hand women, constantly had to tell him to quit talking and get back to work.

Darren genuinely couldn't help it, he loved attention, and he was a bonified people person. He tried hard to keep his enthusiasm and story telling level down; he truly wanted to keep this job. He had a serious thing for Mimi, he couldn't help it, there was just something about her, that smile was amazing, it brightened the room for him. He spent most of his day trying to remember to keep his mouth closed and get his work done, but unfortunately the only attention she showed him was when she scolded him for slacking. God help his twisted little soul, but bad attention was better than no attention.

He wasn't surprised the guys on the job didn't like him, most men didn't, he was a suave, devout ladies man, despite his recent infatuation with Mimi, and he believed most men were just intimidated by him. What did surprise him was his boss Jack. He could never understand why Jack just didn't seem to like him, Darren wasn't into men or anything, but he could safely say Jack was a real handsome guy; and obviously rich, he had no reason to feel threatened.

***

"I don't trust Darren." Marz said taking a big swig of his beer, "He's lazy, talkative, gossipy and he's always hanging around the girls," he looked at Jack as he said, "Especially Mimi."

"I noticed." he agreed taking a drink of his cognac, looking through the glass on the kitchen door, watching Darren, once again, openly flirt with Nomi. He had about enough.

"I don't think it's a good idea, he's already messing around with a couple of chicks on shift." Marz said, watching Jacks reaction. Just as he suspected, he saw the intense flash of jealousy on his friends face. 

Aries got up and headed towards the kitchen, Marz grinned in satisfaction, but wondered why Jack just hadn't asked Mimi out yet. Luci said she was positive Mimi liked him and he knew for a fact Jack liked her. They were a stubborn pair. He motioned Luci over so he could tell her about Jack's reaction.

Aries walked through the kitchen door just in time to hear Darren hitting on Mimi.

"So let me take you out to dinner tonight," he said standing close behind her. Mimi was ready to open her mouth to decline and tell him to get his ass back to work when Jack walked in. 

"Darren I pay you to work, not run your mouth." Aries looked him straight in the eye. 

"Sorry, sir." Darren bowed his head trying to avoid Jack's intense glare.

"Get it done so we can close up." he barked. 

"Right away." Darren nodded and took off, not wanting to piss his boss off.

Aries stared at her for a second before he walked into his office.

"What's eating him?" Luci asked walking in to see Jack's scowl before he left.

"I don't know, but it's been eating him all day." Mimi answered.

Aries was going to wait until he took Mimi home to tell her about fraternizing with the staff, but Darren quickly finished his work than asked her if she needed a ride. Normally she would have said no, but seeing Jack's obvious bad mood, she reluctantly accepted. 

*** 

Aries drove behind Darren and Mimi on the way home, happy they did not deviate from their destination. He was not sure why he felt the way he did, he knew it was a form of jealousy; he just was not very familiar with the all consuming emotion. Plus it just wasn't reasonable for him to be jealous, he had no claim on her, hell, she hated his guts not that long ago.

But she had kissed him, there for opening up the invitation, and no matter how quickly she tried to withdraw it, that kiss was still burning in his lips.

Aries slowed down as his car stopped in front of the house, he watched as Darren scrambled to open the car door, and he grinned to see Mimi had already let herself out. 

"I'll walk you to the door." Darren smiled at her, walking close to her.

"Sure." she shrugged, it was only like 3 steps away, "Well, this is me," she smiled, "thanks again for the ri-" as she turned her head he planted a kiss on her lips. He was as quick as a snake, and his lips tasted like one, Mimi yanked away from him.

"I'm sorry" he immediately started, seeing her anger already brimming. 

"If you ever do that again you will be waiting in the unemployment line in a body cast." she warned him. Both of them turned to see Jack pulling into the driveway and Darren got nervous. 

"I'm so sorry Mimi, I couldn't help it, your just so-"

"I am your boss and you will respect me as though." she turned and walked into her front door. Darren did a serious speed walk to his car, sighing in relief that he got inside before jack came out of the garage. He sped off.

Aries was pissed, he tried to reason with himself but it hadn't worked, he was still pissed. Mimi was fishing for her keys wanting to get inside before Jack got in the building, but it was no surprise, that due to her failing luck, she could not find her keys. Darren kissing her had been bad enough, but she knew Jack had seen it and she felt weird about that. Regardless of how bad they started off, or the fact that he pulled away when she hugged him, she still couldn't shake that feeling she got when ever he was around or she thought of him. She didn't want him to think she liked Darren or anything.

"Hey Jack." she smiled

"Nomi, we need to talk." he said with a seriousness that made her a little worried.

"Sure, just let me find my keys." she said, digging back through her purse, and wouldn't you know, she found them immediately. "Come in." she said as she unlocked the door than went inside, he followed behind. "What's up." she grinned and he wondered how she could be so calm when he was almost raging inside. 

"I'm running a business, not a dating service." 

"Excuse me?" she was genuinely confused, trying to scan her brain and remember if she had messed up somehow. 

"I need a manager that can run my business not date the employees." 

"I do not date the employees." she looked at him baffled, she didn't date anyone, she was a virgin. "I can't believe you just said that." 

"What do you expect me to say when I find my manager kissing the busboy in my front yard?" he snapped.

"I wasn't kissing him!"

"I saw you."

"He kissed me!" she stormed defensively.

"Well maybe you should stop flirting with him so much!"

"I NEVER flirted with him!"

"Your his boss Nomi and you need to act like it!" he used her real name sternly.

"I do act like it!"

"How? By making dates on my time?"

"I wasn't making dates, he asked me to dinner and I didn't even get a chance to answer him before you stormed in!"

"Thank god I did, who knows how far you would have let him go-"

She couldn't help it before she knew what she was doing she slapped him, right across the face. His eyes went wide, his face turned red and she swore she saw steam come from his ears. Before she could react, he had her, his hands holding her face; he planted a brutal kiss on her lips. 

He yanked back and she gasped the air back into her lungs, starring at him, he stepped back realizing what he had just done. 

They both stood there silently, staring intently at each other for what seemed like an eternity before she stepped forward grabbed his face, pulling it down to hers than continued the kiss. 

Aries kissed her back just as passionately, both blind to what they were doing and all else but each other, they went on pure instinct. He slid his hands down her neck, taking over her mouth, she tasted so sweet, so fresh, and he couldn't get enough of her. Her breathing increased, her heart was racing so fast she feared it would pop and her body was floating as his hands slid down her shoulders, taking the straps of her tank top as they went. She could feel every inch of the fabric sliding over her bra covered breasts and when the fabric ran over her soft nipples, it send a jolt of electricity that rattled through her jellified legs. She gasped hard into his mouth right before he pulled back, looking down at her breasts to watch her nipples harden beneath the thin cotton material of her bra.

He ran his finger tips lightly around the tightening nub, circling it lazily, watching her reaction to his touch. He loved the way she thrust her large breasts forward trying to force his fingers to slide across her nipples. He kissed her open lips as she panted; slipping his tongue inside to circle the tip of her tongue as he finally slid his fingers over her begging nipples. Mimi cried out into his mouth as he took her back into a deep kiss.




Luck Ch. 03



Sliding his large hands under her butt, he picked her up, never breaking their kiss, and carried her to the couch. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he sat down, refusing to let his skillful lips leave hers, she deepened the kiss one more level, straddling his thighs.

He slowly ran his hands up her hips to her stomach, sliding her tank top back up. When he pulled back, breaking the kiss, she instinctively raised her arms, his thumbs under the fabric, grazing her sensitive nipples as he pulled the fabric up her breasts than up over her head, tossing it on the couch next them. He slid his hands back down the underside of her arms, trailing down to her breasts, he cupped them both, than slid his hands around her back and undid the hook like a professional. Aries kissed her lips lightly as he peeled the material off, dropping it next to them. 

She was self conscious she had never bared her breasts to any man before and she automatically covered them, shivering as she did so. He ginned at her shyness, she seemed so innocent to him right than, so vulnerable and valuable. He kissed her shoulder, than kissed down her chest, tasting her skin. He ran his hands down her arms, easing them away and holding them lightly behind her with one strong hand as he kissed down to her full breasts. She jerked a little when he kissed her nipple, than arched as he ran his tongue over it, taking it deep into his mouth, she cried out hard. 

Aries slid his free hand down the valley of her breasts to her belly than down her low waisted mini jean skirt to slip underneath the hem, running his hand up her inner thigh. Mimi tried to pull her arms from his and just when he feared she would stop him, she broke free only to run her hand though his hair, holding him closer to her breast. He smiled as he sucked the nub deeper into his mouth. 

He ran his hand over her panties feeling the moisture, she squirmed a little as he slipped his hand inside, running his fingers through her dark patch before slipping between her warm flesh. She cried out hard as his fingers made contact with her over stimulated clit. He dipped his thumb into her opening, trailing the moisture up to her pulsing nub, than circling it, he moved his head to her other nipple as he slid his middle finger slowly inside her. Mimi tried to wiggle away but he held her tight, his other hand against her butt holding her in place so she didn't fall. When he slid a second finger in she tried to pull away. 

"Stop!" she cried, pushing his head back, he let go of her nipple looking up at her, his finger still inside her. She grabbed his hand, but he refused to pull his finger out.. 

"What's wrong?" he asked. 

"Slow down." she said, feeling a little embarrassed by her lack of experience. "I've never done this before." she said looking to see if he would be repulsed or semi weirded out. 

"Haven't done what?" he asked not understanding. This was one of those embarrassing points in time that you can lie, make some dramatic, heartfelt story or blame it on a medical condition.

"Sex." she just spit it out, she was slightly ashamed, she was still a virgin, but she was definitely not a liar. She watched him as her words finally registered. 

"You're kidding me?" He was never one to be shocked easily, but damn, did this girl shock the hell out of him.He wiggled his finger inside of her, feeling how tight she was, she gasped.

"No," she shrugged "Why would i joke about somthing like that." He smiled ear to ear, grabbing her for a kiss. He was ecstatic with the news, he couldn't believe his luck. She had never been with anyone before, he would be her first. 

She pulled back to look at him he couldn't hide the arrogant joy all over his face; he was feeling beyond masculine at this point. She on the other hand felt like an ice veined prude reeking of inexperience.

"You're not turned off?" 

"Hell no," 

"I mean I could under stand if you were, inexperience is not sexy-" he stopped her with a kiss, one strong enough to stop all talk. Aries just kissed her and kissed her and kissed her, he had never been so excited or hard in his life. She had him over stimulated and ready to pop, but he knew he had to take it a little slower, this was her first time and she had decided to share herself with him, he was honored. 

He picked her up and took her to the bedroom, laying her on the bed as he went down on his elbows over top of her. He dropped kisses from her soft full lips taking his time down to her breasts catching each nipple in a kiss. He belly fluttered when he ran his tongue down to dip in her naval as he slipped her panties off her body. 

The air in the room seemed cool against her naked body she felt that familiar flush of embarrassment wanting to grab the sheet and cover herself. He sat up, holding her legs open, looking down at her spread sex; she tried to pull her legs together swearing she could feel darts of fire coming from his eyes and hitting her delicate flesh. Than she looked into his eyes, surprised by the all consuming lust she saw as he looked over her naked body. It stripped her of all her shame, replacing it with a powerful feeling of pride; she almost wanted to flaunt her nudity.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, you are the most sensual and beautiful woman I have EVER seen." his lust laced eyes bore into hers; he spread her flesh with his fingers, dropping a light kiss on her. Mimi jumped and tried to pull back.

"What are you doing?" she asked, not very familiar with oral sex, she wasn't a prude, she had heard about it, but being faced with the act shocked her a little. Being a virgin for over 20 years did not leave much room for experimenting or leaning new things.

"Shh." he dipped his head, running his tongue over her dewy lips, she wanted to pull away from such an intimate act, but was having trouble moving as she felt the stimulation increase as his tongue slid over her spread sex, sucking it in to his mouth, than sliding it over her now screaming clit. Her nipples popped out like metal bullets, as she felt his hand slide across her body to them. She couldn't control it; it was just too much, too intense, the feeling spiraling through her, a deep ringing tingle that was over taking her entire lower body, trying to burst through her tiny clit. 

She cried out with everything in her; as the orgasm tore through her and melted into is mouth. She collapsed on the bed, covered in a sheen of sweat, he slid up her body, leaning over her, watching her orgasm crashing through her body, and he kissed her lips and positioned himself as he slid into her. Mimi froze, stopped kissing him and tried to pull her hips away, going up on her elbows. 

"I want to stop!" she freaked out a little, the pain making her panic.

"Not yet baby," he kissed her lips, "just relax." he held her very tight, breaking through her hymen and deep into her, she screamed and he groaned. He held perfectly still, letting her adjust to him before he slowly began to move inside her.

"Oh god." she breathed. He slid his hand to her clit, stroking it again, lightly kissing her breasts as he continued to slide inside her. It was too much, she felt to full, he was ripping her and she felt every bit of it. He took it excruciatingly slow, watching her face for her reaction. He finally saw a spark of pleasure in her half closed eyes, she lightly sighed.

"Do you feel me in there?" he kissed her lips lightly, "How deep I am inside of you," he whispered against her lips, "how perfectly I fit." he slid very slowly, taking his sweet time regardless of how bad he wanted to just slam inside of her. "You were made for me." he said kissing her. The pain was easing a little, she still felt entirely too full, but the pain was mingling with something else, whatever it was she wanted a little more, using her hips to push back against him. 

"Careful baby," he grinned still keeping his slow pace, the pleasure was breaking through the pain and she wanted more, but he refused to let her hurt herself or be to sore for him later because of their eagerness. "this is your first time." he ran his hand down her chest, paying careful attention to her nipples, dipping his head to take one into his mouth as his hand trailed lower to her sex. He went up to his knees, looking down at where they were joined, her flesh like a pink rubber band around his thick dick, the skin holding him tight as he pulled out. He spread her lips wider, than ran his thumb over her sensitive nub. 

His hands were all over her, he was completely invading her body, and with all the different stimulation's going on at once she thought she would go crazy as the feeling started bubbling through her. 

"OH SHIT!" she cried breathlessly as the most incredible feeling began to spiral through the very soul of her sex "What is that?" she arched, holding him tighter to her shivering body as the pressure of it weighed down with each of his slow, deep strokes. He was kissing her ruthlessly, both lost in their tempest, completely locked into each other, she cried as he growled his release, both stiffening than melting into each other. 

He was heavy on her but she loved the feeling. He swung around to his back; never removing himself from her as he held her on top of him, stroking her back and the sides of her breasts, slipping his fingers between their bodies to stroke her nipple as he kissed the top of her head.

"That was amazing; I can't believe I waited so long."

"I'm glad you did." he slid a hand down to her butt, slipping his fingers into the center of her parted thighs. He held her tightly as they both promptly fell asleep. 

*** 

Normally Angus didn't deal with the press to much, but he needed a complete back ground on Miss Lutz and not just arrest related. He wanted a full back ground on her personal life, whom she dated, who she hated, whom she slept with, who she worked with, what she ate for dinner, who she had after dinner, down to the color of her panties, no detail of her life was irrelevant at this point. He also needed someone not associated with the law that could secretly trail her; he wanted to know EVERYONE she interacted with. Luckily, Angus had the perfect man for the job. 

Hector Landon had been a cohort of his for years, he was the head man in charge and sole owner of 'celebrity skinz' the highest rated celebrity gossip magazine in the country. Hectors greed made him reliable and trustworthy, if Angus exchanged information with him, he could always trust in Hector not to publish the story so long as he was the 1st to get the full scoop and the exclusive right to print it before any other magazine. 

It was because of this that he dealt with him, Hector was always an asset to Angus's celebrity crime cases, just as Angus was always an asset to Hector's magazine. 

*** 

Aries couldn't keep his hands off her, he just had to touch her all the time, every time they were left alone together they automatically started kissing, his hands instantly all over her. All Mimi wanted to do was just keep kissing him, she had never felt such euphoria, she had no idea that just regular, everyday lips could bring out such a sensation all through her body. 

"Come here." he said and she walked over to him. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her lips lightly. "Thank you for breakfast." 

"Maybe next time you'll eat a little more food." 

"Instead of eating the cook?' they both smiled and she blushed, thinking about this morning and their breakfast in bed. He slid his fingers inside the neckline of her tank, slipping his fingers into her bra; he kissed her soft full lips. 

"Let's get out of here." he said 

"I can't." she protested between kisses. 

"Yes you can," he smiled kissing her again before taking her hand and leading her out the back door, "you're the boss." 

*** 

Hector was more than willing to help his old friend out on this one; Aries Stark sold magazines, magazines made money. Hector was always the 1st to admit he greedy if he was anything; he had opted for success over love, and had gotten his wish tenfold. Above it all, Hector was a business man, and conducted all of his relationships as he would his business. Regardless of the greed that seemed to encase his very soul, Hector was a man of his word and always put his money where his mouth was. 

He gathered all the scandalous secrets of Lona's shady past in exchange for information. He agreed to keep secret about Lona's involvement in the possible murder, so long as he could print about the mysterious corpse that may possibly be Aries Stark. 

Just as Angus knew he would, Hector had a tail on Lona within seconds of their meeting. She would be none the wiser and if she did by chance notice, she would just be thrilled to death that the paparazzi were even following her. He knew Lona personally; she was a shallow slut who had slept her way to get back on the top. She was a vindictive and manipulative bitch hell bent on re-achieving the stardom she had as a pre-teen. 

Hector had an excellent instinct, that's what had taken him to the top of his game at such an early age. He had even better instincts when it came to women, especially women he had fucked, and he had fucked Lona more than enough times to know she was capable of almost anything when it came to what she wanted. Now that she was determined to surpass her previous fame, he wouldn't put it past her to have done something sneaky to Aries just to get her name in the lights. This girl wanted to be a star, and she would stop at nothing to become one. 

Hector was smiling like an idiot as he looked at his emergency released issue of 'celebrity skinz'. He had his staff working round the clock to finish the magazine before they closed that night. The public was still going wild with their insatiable need to know what happened to Aries Stark, he would out sell every magazine this month He was beside himself with joy looking at the front cover... 

"ARIES STARK DEAD!" 

. 

*** 

Luci, Marz, Jack and Aries were in the kitchen cleaning up and talking before closing when Lyndsay stormed in 

"Oh my god, did you hear the news?" her eyes like large saucers of coffee. 

"WHAT!?" Luci and Mimi both asked at the same time. 

"Aries Stark is dead!" 

"What? NO!" Luci put her hands to her mouth. 

"You're kidding." Marz added 

"Who?" Mimi asked. Aries had gone speechless and pale upon hearing the news of his death, than was shocked even further to find out that Mimi didn't even know his name or who he was. 

"Aries Stark, remember the horror movie about the mutated aliens we watched last summer." Luci said. 

"Barely." 

"He played the main guy with the black mohawk." Lyndsay said and Mimi shrugged, 

"Remember the uber sexy guy Luci said would be the only father of her children and Marz got mad and threw her in the pool." 

"I remember." she nodded, she remembered the incident, but she'd be damned if she could remember the actors face or his name. Aries wasn't sure what disturbed him most, Mimi having no clue who the hell he was or Luci's minor infatuation.

"How did he die?" Luci asked and Lyndsay shrugged 

"Their not sure, his body just washed up on shore." she answered. 

Aries felt awkward, paranoid and strange listening to the surreal conversation of his dead body being found ashore. He wanted to ask questions but he didn't dare, he would check out the Internet news. 

He got a little worried thinking of all the magazines that had his picture splattered on their front page, and did a silent thanks that Lyndsay had not brought any magazines that could contain pictures. Now was defiantly not the time for Mimi to see a picture of the missing Aries Stark. She knew him to well now, he was positive she would recognize him. He just flat out refused to take that chance; he would allow nothing to risk his relationship with her, not even his identity. 

Aries managed to slip out of the kitchen undetected; Marz, Luci and Lyndsay so engrossed in conversation they did not see him slip out, but Mimi did. 

*** 

Aries wasn't sure what to think, on one hand, he knew for an absolute fact they had the wrong person, so it was just a matter of time before they realized their mistake. On the other hand, he wasn't sure how to feel about the loss of his identity. Even though he had come to resent his previous life, it was still his name, and right now, he had a serious need to hear Mimi crying out his name while he was buried deep inside of her. 

He was torn, if Aries Stark was dead, he was free to be with Mimi with no paparazzi, no fame, and no celebrity title. His lie would never be discovered. 

He would truly be Jack the unknown, Jack the average, everyday man, which people would have to like for just his personality alone, since he had nothing else to offer them. He would have achieved his dream of anonymity, but now that he had found Mimi, part of him wanted his name back. 

He wanted to be Aries Stark as the man he was now, not the name that meant more than his person was. He wanted to be free to love Mimi as Aries Stark would. He wanted the whole world to know he had found the woman of his dreams that he was ready to retire from film and grow old running a restaurant with the best cook in the world. 

It was a serious decision, deciding your identity was never easy. Not to mention the possible repercussions. 

This could either blow over or turn out disastrous. 

*** 

"What's wrong?' Mimi asked going over to the desk in his living room, leaning back against it facing him. Aries looked exhausted as he sat back in his chair looking up at her. 

"Nothing." he said reaching out his arm to run lazily up her thigh. 

"Tell me." she said, knowing something was wrong. He looked up at her and once again, he felt that insane need to tell her the truth, see what she thought about it. He couldn't, another dilemma for him, not even able to express his true self to the one woman he was sure he had true feelings. 

"I just missed you." he said, leaning in to plant a kiss on her bare belly. 

"Liar." she whispered running her hands over his head, wondering what he looked like with hair. 

"Why don't you ever let your hair grow?" she asked, he thought for a second before he answered. 

"I'm going bald." he lied, than looked up at her when she did not respond, "Does that bother you?" 

"No, why should it? You've been completely bald since the day I met you." she smiled and he hugged her closer, leaning his cheek against her breast. He felt rotten, she didn't even care if he was completely bald, she still liked him regardless and here he was still lying to her. It was eating him up. 

"What if I gained 50 pounds?" 

"Just more of you to love." she answered sincerely. "So long as you don't change inside, I could care less what's going on with the outside of you." she bent her head and planted a kiss on the top of his head.

He believed her, she cared for him despite the thick mountain man beard he now sported, and regardless of the horrible black glasses he used to hide his face. 

It was what he was looking for, why he had left his previous life; he had just been playing the game of life blindly, waiting for her. Now that he had her, he would allow nothing to jeopardize it



Luck Ch. 04



Mimi and Jack had converted the front door of the 2 sided house into their main door, opening up their apartments to freely move between the two. They had moved most of his things into her apartment and he rarely went to his anymore. He relished spending every night with her and waking up to her every morning. 

Mimi took advantage of the hallway separating their apartments, putting a small peach and cream marble topped end table between 2 cream colored wicker chairs. She hung a few plants from the ceiling and placed a few large potted plants on the floor next to them. A round Persian rug with various shades of peach, cream and burnt sienna brought it all together, making it a cozy little spot where they could relax. 

It managed to tie the apartments together, making it look more like one house. They sat out there almost every morning, drinking fresh French roast coffee, enjoying each others conversation and watching the sun come up through the huge glass paneled front door. 

Things were going so fantastic for Mimi she was actually a little nervous that she would wake up from this dream and it would all be gone. Her life was so much different now than it had been before. She found her self dreaming of the future with hope, instead of dwelling in her unlucky past with dread. She felt like she was on top of the world, like there was nothing she could not achieve, she was becoming invincible. She also knew for a very serious fact that she was in love with Jack and as joyous and thankful as she felt, she could not shake that nagging fear. 

Loving him had brought the reality of death along with it. 

She shook in terror at the mere thought of Jack meeting the same unfortunate fate as her parents. She worried about him constantly, always making sure he was safe and secure. He didn't seem to mind, he seemed to sincerely appreciate her concern, and his face glowed in appreciation every time she fussed over him. 

The problem was she had watched her mother's heart slowly die inside of her half dead body after the love of her life had died. Mimi had lived her life with a deep fear and hatred of love and all that it stood for. It was after her mothers death, that she had made the solemn oath to never allow love to enter her life again. 

Love only brought pain and suffering, or so she had thought.

Realistically she knew she was playing a tricky game, for all she knew her love for Jack could back fire on her; but for right now, she just did not care. When she was with him, all she could think about was him and those amazing things he kept doing to her body and mind, the way he looked at her and made her feel like the most desirable and sexiest woman in the world. 

She just wanted to live in the moment, she wanted to enjoy him for how ever long that may be, and regardless if it's 1 month or 1 lifetime, she was down for whatever, so long as she was with him. 

*** 

Aries was bewitched and there was no denying it, he was infatuated with this curvy caramel minx, and just the thought of her turned his dick into a stone monument. He loved fucking her, he loved making love to her, he loved touching her, he loved talking to her. Her body tormented him when he wasn't able to touch it. Whenever she walked by him in the restaurant, his hands and dick twitched to caress her lush curves. 

He had also noticed that she was in the process of expanding her new wardrobe, and he was paying attention to the little skirts and tops he knew she bought thinking of him. He wondered if her pussy got wet thinking of him standing at the register as she purchased the clothes. He knew his cock went wild when ever he bought her dirty little outfits to wear only for him. 

He remembered the first night he had brought her a skimpy little peach bikini top and a skirt so small it looked like a nylon belt. He thought his cock was going to explode when she came into the living room wearing it, the sheer material clinging to her curves. Her nipples almost glowing through the material, begging to be set free and taken deep into his mouth. He was reduced to a little boy when he looked at her, wanting to just curl up in her lap and latch on to one of those tempting nipples. 

She had walked slowly to the stereo, the lust filled look in his eye encouraging her. The melodic begging beats of Marvin Gaye oozed through the speakers, seducing them both.

She walked over to him very slowly, the anticipation of reaching him overwhelmed her, and her needy pussy could feel the slight vibration with every step she took. He watched her, her passion staining her face, the wicked wave of her hip, the ball breaking bounce of her breasts. His anticipation was turning to torture, his hands needed to be all over her, right NOW! 

She stood proud before him, letting the lust in his eyes and the rhythm of the music take control of her wanton body, keeping her waist still, she started moving hr hips to the beat, swaying a figure eight, his eyes almost crossing as he watched those hips move in a way that he had never seen hips move before. He was transfixed, she was like some goddess sent down just for him, and he was more than thankful for such an immeasurable amount of luck! He held her hips, kissing her belly, pulling her down to sit on his lap. He could barley contain those delicious hips grinding to the beat, her moist sex brushing against his throbbing hard on. 

He wanted to be inside her immediately, but she wouldn't have it. She held his hands back, kissing his full lips, running her tongue down his chin, his neck, sliding off his lap to kneel between his knees, her descending tongue never loosing contact with his skin. Mimi unzipped his jeans, than pulled him out, slowly running her tongue up to the very tip, sliding over it, tasting the salty pre-cum that just kept running, taking just the thick head into her mouth, sucking lightly. He ran his hand through her hair as she began to take the thick shaft deep into her warm mouth. Aries was paralyzed and defenseless against Mimi's administrations, so he laid his head back with a deeply satisfied grin. 

He was a lucky man, life couldn't be any better. 

*** 

The aroma from the restaurant clung to the passing breeze, being carried all over the city, making anyone fortunate enough to catch it, run to the restaurant like an undiscovered addict. Word spread fast about the deliciously delectable entrees and the amazing new cook who continually created them. The restaurant was packed everyday, and around lunch time it was nothing to see a small line gathering at the front door, waiting patiently to be seated. 

He was proud of her, she was talented and she truly deserved the praise and adulation, but he was beginning to worry about all the publicity. He knew how things worked, Chefs like her were rare, and it wouldn't be long before she had 'under cover' critics coming to taste her food. After of course there would be a glowing report that would lead to even more publicity. He was in a sticky situation, reporters were his enemy, he had to keep himself hidden for a little while longer, he wasn't ready to stop being Jack Smith yet. 

The solution was as clever as it was simple; he just removed himself from the scene, letting her take full control of the restaurant. He loved being around her, hell, he couldn't keep his hands off the poor girl, but he managed to keep away or keep himself hidden in the office. There were just too many people in and out on a daily basis and he was playing a risky game of Russian roulette. He had been a huge celebrity, his face plastered on every TV, movie screen, magazine and billboard in the country for years, eventually someone was bound to recognize him. 

*** 

Lucy and Lyndsy were thrilled to death that Mimi was coming out of her depression and her 'series of bad luck'. Things were going brilliant for her now and they really liked Jack, there was something genuine and honest about him, despite the fact that Lyndsy still could not shake the feeling that she had seen him somewhere before. It was strange how familiar he looked, but she just couldn't put it together. 

"He doesn't remind you of someone?" Lyndsy asked Luci. 

"Yea, my cousin Sid, he has that thick beard and moustache just like him." she answered, popping a fresh grape into her mouth, "that's probably why he looks so familiar to you." 

"He does look a little like Sid now that you mention it." Marz said as Luci fed him a grape. 

"Maybe." Lyndsy said still unconvinced. 

*** 

"You're taking today off." he said walking up behind her as she diced vegetables on the kitchen counter, preparing their omelets.

"I already took the day before off," 

"So what." he said leaning into her, running his hands up her thighs, "I'm not letting you leave here." he slid his hand around to her belly, than slid it down the front of her tiny yellow bed shorts. Mimi stopped cutting the vegetables as his fingers slipped between her flesh than deep inside of her. She gasped hard, leaning back against him. He slid his other hand up the front of her matching yellow baby tee, and she dropped the knife on the table. "I want to be inside you all day." he whispered into her ear, both watching his hand under her shirt, his fingers tugging on the sensitive tips. "Jack stop, let me finish-"

"You really want me to stop?" he asked sliding his finger out of her slowly. She wanted to clench her things and make him finish, but she had to be realistic, she had to go to work.

"yes." she said weakly." he slid his finger out of her and she wanted to object.

"Than why is your pussy so wet?" he asked holding his finger up to show her his soaked finger. "Fuck the omelet, I want you for breakfast." he said sliding his finer into his mouth, nosily sucking her juices from it. She was panting a little, trying to gather all her will power to stop him, the clock was ticking. 

"Jack-"

"Your culinary skills are incomparable, but with all the delicious dishes I've ever tasted, none of it tastes as good as you." 

"Jack I can't keep making Luci do my job." she managed to get out, ready to just fade back into him and let him have his way. 

"Trust me, she's fine with it." he said lifting her shirt up. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I gave her a bonus," he ran his finger tips lightly over her breasts, making them quiver. "Your staying here." he kissed down the back of her neck, going down to his knees, he kissed all the way down to her butt, pulling her tiny shorts down her thighs.  

"Jack-" she gasped as he slid his tongue between her lush cheeks, spreading them, trailing down slowly. He licked down to her pulsing clit, careful to barley touch it, than back up, his tongue slipping into her opening, than up a little more to the puckered hole above it. Her body jumped at the feeling as he slid just the tip of his tongue in before trailing back down to let his talented tongue dance over her sensitive nub. 

Just when she didn't think she could stand up any longer, her legs shaking like a leaf from the intense stimulation, he stood behind her, grabbing her hips firmly as he slid himself deep inside her. The magnificently full feeling he created inside of her had energized her, stripped her of her exhaustion and made her hungry for more of him. Her hands were in the peppers and tomatoes, bracing the counter as she bounced her ass against his deeply penetrating penis, matching his every move. Than he pulled out and stopped, she looked back at him, passion laced with anger all over her pretty face.

"Are you staying home?" he asked, his jaw set firmly, but he lightly ran his finger down her slit.

"Yes."

"Will you stay home whenever I ask you to from now on?" he asked her eyes widened, she would agree to just about anything right now.

""Yes, yes!" she snapped.

"That's my girl." he grinned, than holding her hips, he slid back inside of her. She started fucking him back hard, just in case he tried to pull out again. He joined her tempest and her backbreaking rhythm until they both were coming hard. Jack leaned against her, holding her tight to him as he spewed his seed deep inside of her. 

"Damn baby, I gotta keep you home more often." he grinned.

*** 

Rip Howard was not happy with his demotion to restaurant reviews, he was one step away from quitting his job altogether, the magazine sucked, his boss was a prick in heels, who hated him because he stopped sleeping with her. She had sent him to the new restaurant everyone was raving over; demanding a review and article in 3 days, including travel time. She did it with the shittiest grin on her face, knowing there was no way in hell he was going to get it done on time. It was the final excuse she needed to fire him. 

He was depressed and disgusted that he had let himself slip this far down in his career. He had been so very close to the success he had dreamed about; but he had fucked it up all by himself, letting his aggression and drive alienate him from the celebrities he had been 'stalking'. He had been willing to go to any lengths to get the best photo, catching them in bad situations, embarrassing moments they had secretly prayed no one had seen, only to discover Rip Howard had captured it all on film. 

*** 

She was soaking in a hot bath, silky iridescent bubbles spilling over the sides and warm vanilla candles surrounding her. She relaxed reading a rather smutty novel when a wickedly seductive image of Jack popped into her head. Unfortunately he was out with Marz getting supplies for the restaurant so he could not help her with her growing need for him. She needed him so badly, and she would take full advantage of him when he got back, but for now, well, she just couldn't help herself. So she set the book on the end table and leaned back, engulfed in the warmth of the water, letting her fingers slide between her legs. 

Aries was a mess by the time he got half way home, the minutes seemed like hours, he needed to get back, he needed to be lost deep inside of her. He tried to think of other things, but everything reminded him of her. It went from him thinking about what she was doing, to what she was wearing to a full blown fantasy of her walking towards him, stripping naked, begging him to touch her. 

Luckily Marz seemed to be feeling the same about Luci, almost speeding and taking every short cut in the book. Aries almost ran to the door, he looked around the living room not seeing her, than it hit him, he knew she was in the tub. His dick started to throb as he slowly walked towards the bathroom door, the anticipation of seeing her was killing him, he opened the door slowly and thought he would cum instantly. 

There she was naked in the tub, most of the bubbles were gone so he could see clear through the water, and he held his breath as he watched her touch herself, her head thrown back. 

She was so deep into what she was doing she did not hear him enter, but she felt him. She gasped as she opened her eyes, seeing him standing there at the door, watching her masturbate. 

"Don't stop." he said, his voice low and raspy as he walked over to her. She moved her hands away a slight blush staining her cheeks. "there is nothing for you to be embarrassed about," he said as he kneeled on one leg next to the tub, leaning in to kiss her lips, "I love watching you touch yourself," he said against her lips, leaning back a bit to take her hand and slide it back between her legs. His large hand covering hers as he guided it over her flesh. He ran his free hand down her breasts, bending to kiss her lips again. "I'm jealous of your fingers," he grinned wickedly, "I want to be the ONLY one touching you." he lifted her leg out of the water to hang over the side of the tub, opening her sex for him "I want to keep my fingers inside you all the time." 

He ran his hand down her body, going under the water soaking his jacket sleeve. She arched when his finger slid slowly inside of her, finding her spot instantly, she could feel the warm water gliding in and out with each skilled movement. He slid in a second finger picking up the pace as he bent his head to her tight nipple, sucking just the hard nub into his mouth. She cried out, wrapping her wet arms around his head as she arched harder. 

He just could not get enough of her, fast enough; he grabbed her thighs forcing her lower body out of the water, her body slightly folded and her head back against the tub. He held her suspended, his fingers biting into her thighs as he bent his head and ran his tongue up her spread lips. Mimi turned her head against the cool porcelain tub, feeling that vibration begin as he took control of her body. He was relentless no matter how hard she squirmed he was firmly latched onto her pulsing vagina, sucking her flesh deep into his mouth, than ramming his tongue inside of her. She tried to brace herself as that intense spasm tore through her lower body, her thighs tightening around his head. 

He took ever drop of her juice in his mouth refusing to release her until she stopped cuming. Once her body settled down a bit, He put his arm under her knees and the other around her back lifting her dripping body from the tub, soaking his jacket and shirt. He carried her to the bed, laid her down, than slid deep inside of her. 

*** 

Rip was more than impressed; he was devouring a plate of the most delicious food he had ever eaten in his life, a spicy little Cajun dish that forced a moan from him with each bite. Even with all the bullshit reasons he was sent here, he was actually enjoying himself right now, even if his joy only lasted for the duration of his meal, he was still oddly content. It was almost worth it, just to have discovered these mouth watering dishes. 

Regardless of his bitch of a boss's reasons for sending him, she had no idea just what a treasure she had sent him to, how could she, a chef with cooking skills like this hadn't been discovered in a LONG time! He was going to run with this, he was going to speak to the chef, fill her head with visions of fame and wealth, than he would get an exclusive with her. He might not get that star reporter title again, but he was guaranteed excellent jobs with the top cooking magazines once they found out he had discovered one the best chefs in history. This girl was headed to the top of the 'food-chain' with her diverse and delicious menu and he was damn sure going to grab those apron tails and drag along for the ride! 

*** 

Aries had once again tried to stay away and failed. He tried to out reason his own reason for staying away from the restaurant, with why he should go there early. He tried to make it make sense, telling himself on one hand; he was being paranoid, but on the other hand; he was not being paranoid enough. In the end his strange, cleverly created reasoning won over his logical reasoning, so he went to the restaurant hours before closing time. Mimi was thrilled of course; she immediately took him into the office and showed him her 'oral' appreciation. Jack sat in his chair, Mimi on her knees before him, sucking him into frenzy, and all because he surprised her with an early visit and a daisy that he had picked from their front yard. 

All his reasoning and re-reasoning was lost to him at that point; regardless of the repercussions, he was coming to visit her early everyday from now on! 

*** 

Rip Howard sat at his table working on his second meal as he watched the tall man with the shaved head walk through the restaurant door. There was something very familiar about him, regardless of the thick beard and moustache that covered half of his face or the glasses covering the rest. Rip looked around for the restroom sign, happy to see it was so close to the kitchen the man had just walked in, Rip needed a closer look, just to be absolutely sure! 

He walked towards the bathroom when a pretty red headed waitress stopped him asking him if he needed any help. Always on his toes, he asked her about their desserts, looking into the kitchen as she read off a list. He focused in on the man, picturing him with hair on his bald head and what he looked like under the glasses. 




Luck Ch. 04



Rip had a trained eye for celebrity disguises, he used to be a super sleuth, one of the country's top celebrity reporters until his hard core 'stalk them' tactics had gotten him a bad rap, black listing him from anything but smut and slander. Rip held his gasp as he watched the mysterious man turned to give his full side profile. You could disguise a lot, your hair, your eyes, but it was impossible to disguise your profile, and he recognized this one off the bat. It was the very profile he had taken countless times; he had seen it in various disguises over the years, trying to avoid paparazzi or being photographed. But no matter how much he tried to change his appearance, Rip knew Aries Stark's profile better than his own. He had to, pictures of Aries and his long list of lovers paid the most and brought the most fame and promotions to the photographer/reporter who got the most photos. 

He almost laughed out loud, he couldn't believe it, he had come here to discover the next 'top chef' and he had just discovered Aries Stark was alive and well and fooling the world with an obviously fake death to cover his tracks. 

Who just up and leaves a life like his, he had everything, more money than he would EVER be able to spend, he was offered the plum roles from the top directors, women threw themselves at his feet, he had fame that few men had ever achieved. It didn't make any sense. Aries was up to something, and he was bound and determined to find out! 

*** 

He locked the door behind the last person out, than walked back into the kitchen where Mimi was making desert for them, they were planning on watching the scary movie they rented pigging out on sweets while naked. 

"You need to hurry up." he came up behind her, lifting her skirt. 

"Just 15 more minutes." she smiled just as anxious as he was. 

"I can't wait 15 more minutes, I've been waiting all day," he slid his hand down the front of her panties pulling her back against him, "I need you now Nomi." he always called her by her real name when he was past the point of waiting for her. He lifted her away and sat her on top of the cutting counter. 

"Jack-" she tried to object as he spread her thighs wide, her skirt around her belly, his hands holding her inner thighs down to the counter. He bent his head to the soaked crotch of her panties, running his tongue over her fabric covered flesh. Her legs twitched every time he opened his mouth and sucked the material and her flesh in. she put her hands on his head as he ripped the center of her panties, exposing her quivering pussy. He looked at it in awe, running his fingers down the center, spreading her flesh wide, he dipped his head kissing it lightly, pulling soft moans from her. 

He was addicted to the taste of her, running his tongue over her sensitive lips, sucking them into his mouth, than running his tongue down to her opening, circling around it before he stabbed his long, thick tongue deep inside her. She cried out, arching her back deeply, clutching handfuls of his hair. He was grunting as he fucked her with his tongue, sucking the flesh around it, his fingers going to her pulsing clit, slipping back and forth over the hard nub. 

She was trying to pull away as the intense stimulation began to build rapidly, her whole body shaking as she finally fell back on the counter, her body paralyzed as the tension in her pussy erupted through her whole body. She screamed, locking her legs around his head, as he sucked every last drop from her. He finally stood up, looking into her lust dazed eyes and he knew he was NOT going to be able to keep his hands off her if he did not stop. 

"If I don't get you out of here now, we'll be spending the night in this kitchen, naked." he said needing her right here, right now, "I mean it once I start, I'm not stopping." he leaned down kissing her lips, she cooed into his mouth and it was his undoing, "I have to be inside you right now." he said as he urgently pulled his painfully hard dick out of his pants, watching his own finger as it slid in and out of her. she inhaled deeply, arching her back so provocatively, he growled, grabbing her hips and slamming himself deep inside of her, she cried out as she held him, he was fucking her as if his life depended on it, bouncing up and down on the cutting counter, his fingers biting into her hips as he held her still, getting up on the counter on his knees before her, spreading her wider. He yanked her tank top strap down, pulling her bra with it, catching the hard peak in his mouth as she rolled her hips to match the rhythm of his thrusting pelvis. 

Her legs were jelly, so he put his arm around her waist for support as they were leaving the restaurant for the night. Aries was in a deep stupor, entranced by the sexy vixen leaning into him, he could feel her large firm breast against his side, and he stopped, sliding his hand into her shirt, kissing her lips. Not really one for public displays of affection, he was almost surprised by his raging need to fuck her again, right here, right now! 

He was seriously addicted to this girl; he was questioning his own sanity as he put his hand under her ass and slid her up his body, holding her as he began to grind his already re-hardened dick into her. He had just leaned her against the wall next to the restaurants main door when the familiar flash of the paparazzi stopped Aries dead in his tracks. 

He turned to his left to see a familiar face, a sleazy reporter who had been stalking him for almost a year, following his every move, taking pictures of every thing he did until one night, sick of the shit, he belted the guy in the face, than proceeded to break his camera in a million pieces. 

"Aries why did you leave?" he asked still snapping pictures. 

"What the-" she started; still dazed by the things he had just done to her body. 

"You got the wrong guy." Aries said, going into his usual 'head down- avoids the camera' speed walk. He grabbed Mimi by her elbow heading straight towards the car. 

"Come on man, I'll give you what ever you want, name the price, just talk to me, is that your girlfriend?" he asked fast, "how do you know Aries?" he asked her as Aries got her inside the car, shutting her door, he went to his side. "They think your dead." he said, Aries ignored him, keeping his head down; he got into the drivers side, locking their doors as he sped off.

"Who the hell is Aries?" she asked, looking at him in surprise, grinning. He shrugged, his mind speeding with a million new problems forming. "Do they mean the actor Lyndsy was telling us about?" 

"I don't know." he lied. Something inside her was telling her to pay attention, but between their animalistic sex session and the shock of the current surreal situation, it didn't fully register. 

"That was insane! I feel like I was in an episode of the twilight zone." she shook her head, looking at him, he seemed tense. He looked over at her, this part of his career was all too familiar to him, the very down fall of it, and it was all too real for him. He was not prepared to go back to it, but now that he had been discovered, there was no telling how long he had until it all blew up in his face. 

He wanted to be the one to tell her, he did not want her to find out through some shitty magazine blasting his picture all over. It was bad enough he had been lying to her for so long. The feeling of dread washed over him as he realized his perfect new life was over, he could not be Jack anymore and he refused to be Aries. At this point he wasn't sure if he even cared about fame or anonymity just so long as Mimi stood by his side. 

He could NOT loose this woman! 

*** 

Rip went straight to develop them, he had hit the jackpot, Aries stark WAS alive and well and Rip Howard the new nobody reduced to smut magazines had found him, the gold needle in the haystack. What fucking luck! He was going to be on top again, he would be the most famous reporter in history, he would expose Aries Stark for the fraud he was! 

*** . "I want you to pack a bag," he said squealing into the driveway "I'm taking you on vacation." he turned off the car turning to her 

"Vacation? We can't take a vacation, the business is-" 

"Fuck the business, fuck everything else but me and you." he pulled her closer to him, kissing her lips "I'm taking you away," he said against her full bottom lip, "I want you all to myself and I am NOT taking no for an answer!" 

"You have me all to yourself." she said with a soft, sensual smile. Just the thought of her; naked all day and night, all his for an entire week, had him ready to strip her and make love to her right there in the front seat, but he had to hurry, he had no idea how long they had before Rip Howard had his picture on every television and magazine in America. 

*** 

Angus sat his desk , something was really bothering him about this case, he just was not sure what it was yet, but he was hell bent on finding the truth before his retirement. He knew for a fact this was not Aries Stark, but he could not prove it. Everything identified the corpse as Aries, the hair, eyes, height, even the damn blood type, but Angus knew precise planning when he saw it. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the condition of the corpse told of premeditation, the murderer purposely tried to confuse the identity of the body. 

Why? 

He knew once he found out that key detail, he would find his killer and the true identity of the victim. 

For right now he was going on only the facts, and new evidence said the victim had been poisoned before his teeth were crushed and his finger and toes removed, he had been euthanized like a domesticated house pet. 

Angus wondered why the hell someone would use the same poison the veterinarians ordered, it was too easy to narrow down. He wondered if it was stupidity or part of the plan. He and Cruz were diligently questioning every veterinarian in town, praying this would be the lead to eventually solve the case.



Luck Ch. 05



"ARIES STARK MURDERED- AUTOPSY REVEALS POISONING."

Rip Howard looked at the front cover of the brand new, hot off the press edition of 'celebrity skinz'. 

"Bullshit." he said to himself, reading over the article as he waited to see Hector Landon, head man in charge here at celebrity skinz and the only man that can make or break a reporter's career with the snap of his fingers. He had done a lot of work in the past for Hector, but all that stopped after he was black listed. 

Now Hector had no choice but to accept Rip's deal, Rip was the only one who had the proof that Aries Stark was alive and the only one that knew where he was.

***

Aries had taken Mimi to the bungalows next to the beach she had previously told him about. Her parents had taken her there once when she was younger and she had loved it. She had a desire to go back and since it was so secluded he couldn't think of a better place. 

Aries had no idea what the future held for him, he had no idea if Mimi would end up leaving him because of all the lies he told. He was going to tell her the truth, he just needed this one last week with her, he wanted her to continue to love him the way she loved Jack Smith. He needed it just a little bit longer, he was not ready to let go of what they shared or the way she made him feel. Love like this only came once in a lifetime, and he was terrified he would loose her. 

***

Rip Howard stormed out of Hector Landon's office furiously. Rip had waited all week for this appointment and after 3 seconds and one look at the pictures, Hector rushed him out of his office, accusing him of wasting his time with fake photos.

Rip was angry, but he was never a quitter, he knew what he had to do. So he bought himself another round trip ticket, he was going back to see Aries and get ALL the proof he needed.

***

They were spending a glorious week in seclusion, serving only each other, worshiping each other. There wasn't a minute that passed that he was not in some way touching her, exploring her body or kissing it. 

She was more relaxed than she had ever felt in her life, her worries didn't seem to matter any more, and she had Jack to thank for that. She never knew love could feel so amazing, and for the 1st time in her life, she understood why her mother had battled the demons she had. But she refused to let those fears control her life any longer. No matter how hard she had tried to fight it, no matter how hard she had resisted, she had fallen completely and totally in love. 

***

"I swear if this child wasn't going to help my career, I would have aborted it immediately!" she said to herself in disgust as she looked at her naked form in her full length mirror. "You are so lucky you are going to make me rich." she said as she ran her hand over her swollen belly. 

Her entire life she had suffered from an irrational fear of gaining weight, but she had to deal with it this time. Her visions of her future paved in red carpets and unlimited fame far surpassed any fears she had with weight issues.

Besides, her biggest fear was not achieving that fame, and after she had the baby she would definitely have more than enough money to surgically repair any flaws the baby left on her body.

Hell, she could do what ever she wanted now, she was having Aries stark's love child and there was no one around to prove different. She felt a spiral of satisfaction race through her despite her thickening waist, she was going to finally achieve her dream, she could already see the picture of her and the baby on the front cover of 'celebrity skinz'.

***

It was so hot she fell asleep in just her bikini bottoms; he sat on the side of the bed facing her, just looking at her and thinking. Reality was really kicking in now and he was becoming more and more worried. He could not imagine his life without her and he refused to ever loose her; he wanted to marry this girl, he wanted babies with her. 

He couldn't believe he was actually thinking of this, this time last year he abhorred the thought of marriage; he used triple protection, scared to death of becoming a father. Now it was all he could think of, he wanted to get started with his life now that he had found it and he wanted all this shit to be over.

There were so many things he wanted to do with her, so many places he wanted to take her. He desperately wanted to take her to one of his favorite places in the world, his secluded house by the beach. He used to go there a lot to get away from all the bullshit in his life. He NEVER took anyone with him; it was his own secret spot, his personal hideaway. But he wanted to take her, and for some strange reason he wanted her to love it as much as he did.

He ran his hand down her shoulder, turning her on her back. She stirred a little, still asleep. He bent his head blowing lightly over her breasts, watching her nipples harden before sucking one deep into his mouth. She moaned than opened her eyes, stretching her body, her back arching enough for him to slide his hand underneath, pulling her torso closer to him and her breast deeper into his mouth. His slid his other hand down the front of her bikini bottoms, his fingers sliding between her lips, immediately finding her clit. 

***

Leslie Malone was worried; she had recently broken up with her off and on again fiancée of 3 years, Brad Lowell. They had broken up plenty of times before due to Brads cheating. Usually he came crawling back after a few days, begging her to take him back and promising it would never happen again. 

Of course it always did, and frequently. 

She loved him with all of her heart, and she knew he honestly couldn't help it. Some where in his life Brad had decided that the only way to make it to the top was to sleep his way there. Not an admirable trait by any means, but Brad was desperate for fame and would do anything to get it. 

As it stood he was B listed, he had managed to grab a little bit of fame, but not due to his acting skills. He wasn't half bad as an actor, he was pretty good actually, but that handsome face that he used to get what he wanted was his down fall. He had a very strong resemblance to a very famous celebrity whose acting skills had become legendary due to his spellbinding performances and the way he managed to capture the true essence of the characters he played.

Brad had used his face to get in the door, everyone was taken back by the resemblance and he was instantly offered a film. Unfortunately with a face to match Aries Stark, the crowd expected a performance just as similar and was always left unsatisfied. No matter how much he looked like him, he was NOT Aries Stark.

Leslie loved him regardless, she happened to have a great deal of money on her own from her inheritance, so it did not matter that he was always broke, she took care of him. She was realistic enough to admit that her bank account probably had a part to do with why he had always came crawling back, but deep in her heart she liked to believe it was a little more than just that. She knew deep down in his superficial, self gratifying, conceited little heart, he held a spot for her; and in his own way, he did love her.

So why was he not back yet? She knew he had no money. At first she assumed he was living off that Bitch he was seeing, she had money and fame of her own, but something just didn't seem right. She got no answer when she finally decided to call him. 

Now she stood in his apartment looking around, something definitely wasn't right. Brad was a neat freak and never kept his apartment in disarray. The place looked like a pig sty, like it had been ransacked.

Leslie quickly backed out of his apartment, calling the police immediately. Brad would never leave his place like this no matter how much time he spent with his new girl friend. Something had happened; she could feel it in her heart.

***

Mimi looked down the big cliff to the water below.

"No way." she said stepping back, holding his hand tighter trying to coax him away from the ledge.

"Jump with me." 

"You know I don't like heights."

"That's why we're up here, to cure your fear." he pulled her closer, his hand going to her denim covered behind.

"Let's just go fool around on the shore." she smiled kissing his lips lightly. He kissed her back.

"The only shore we're fooling around on is that one." he pointed to the shore down below. "There's only one way to get there."

"Very tricky." she grinned, lord knows she didn't want to, her legs were already shaking just thinking about it, but she REALLY wanted to fool around "fine." she gave up and started to undress. He stripped quickly to his swim shorts, when he turned around he grunted, seeing her in the tiniest peach bikini he had ever seen. The top just covered her nipples. He pulled her close with another grunt.

"Damn girl," he said his voice husky, he pulled the strips of fabric to the side exposing her breasts, she gasped, "look at you." his arm went around her hips his free hand went straight to her breasts, caressing her lightly. He kissed her full lips lightly, than ran his hand through her long silky curls. He pulled back a bit; she stood there slightly breathless as he smiled covering her breasts, than taking her hand. "Are you ready?"

"no." she squeaked looking down at the water that was very, very, very far below her legs turning to jelly.

"Don't look down, look at me." he kissed her lips quickly when she turned to him, "on 3." she nodded.

"one." he said and she tried to take a little step back, he smiled than pulled her closer to him, "two." he held her hand tight, pulling it up to his mouth for a quick kiss. "Three."

She was falling quickly, her stomach up in her lungs, her heart pounding, than half way through she realized, she actually liked it. She pointed her toes to break the surface just like he taught her, than she was engulfed in the warm water. He grabbed her and pulled her to the surface with him, both breathing deeply as they came up. 

"I can't believe I jumped!" she laughed in amazement, putting her arms around his neck holding on to him tight, her whole body shaking.

"Did you like it?"

"I loved it!" she laughed, "let's do it again!"

"Umm," he pulled her closer, "let's fool around a little first." he threw it back as he kissed her grabbing her thighs and wrapping her legs around his waist, his hand under her butt. He swam towards the shore slowly, taking her with him, not breaking the kiss. 

Once he was where he could stand up, the water stopping below her breasts, he undid the bow at the back of her neck, pulling the tiny top down; the warm air, still cooler than the warm water, sent a chill to her nipples. He pulled his lips from hers, looking down at her goose bumped breasts, "look how hard your nipples are." he pulled on one and she shivered as it sent another chill through her. He bent his head and took one in his mouth, sucking hard. 

One arm still holding her, the other down between her legs, rubbing on her bikini bottoms; she put her arms around his head, holding him closer to her. He slipped his fingers into the fabric, sliding up her bare slit, she moaned as he slid a finger deep inside her, his mouth going to the other nipple, sucking harder and he slid another finger in. 

She cried out as he slid in the 3rd, biting down on her nipple, she grabbed handfuls of his head trying to pull him off, but he was latched on tight and before she knew it, she was crying out her orgasm, her body arching hard, he didn't stop until her body was still and she was limp in his arms. He groaned, watching her cum and swimming her to the shore. He laid her back on the wet sand, the water rolling up to his thighs.

"I have to see you." he growled as he ripped her bikini bottom off, the torn fabric still attached to her right thigh. He ran his fingers over her exposed flesh needing more of her than he could possibly get, he went down on his stomach, his head between her legs, he spread her thighs wide, using his thumbs her stretched her lips as far as they would go than began sucking on her clit. Her body still to sensitive from his last attack, she almost screamed. 

Trying to pull back but he held her tight, his fingers biting into her. he was in a frenzy, attacking her ruthlessly, he groaned hard as she orgasmed harder, releasing her deep scream into the air, he took every last drop of her into his mouth before he slid up her body, positioning himself than slowly sliding into her, she almost sat up as his huge cock impaled her, he pushed her back down, kissing her desperately, fucking her like he had never fucked another woman in his life. 

They were both cuming, he growled like a wild animal and she screamed as they both came harder than they ever had before. He crushed her below him before he lifted on his elbows looking down at her, 

"Damn I fucking love you!" his deep voice and his words sending chills over her skin. "And I love fucking you." he whispered.

"I love it when you fuck me too." she whispered with a smile, her words sending his dick and his brain into an orgasmic orbit, he growled before devouring her lips. 

***

Lana sat in the interrogation room, Angus and Cruz sat across from her. She was trying to keep cool, but she was nervous. 

"You have spent tons of his money, your living in his house, cheating on him in his house, none of that adds up to a grieving fiancée." Cruz started

"That doesn't mean I killed him." she snapped, trying desperately not to loose her composure.

"No, but you publicly admitted you were the last one to have seen him."

"Afternoon boys," Chucky Ray walked into the interrogation room, "this meeting is over." 

Lana smiled ear to ear; Chucky was the best damn defense lawyer sex could buy. Not that she was overly worried now that she knew they still thought the corpse was Aries. They were so far behind, they had no clue; they also had no case until they had the true identity of the victim.

**

Aries was laying on the back porch swing, trying to get the words that he would say to her perfect, he knew he had to tell her. There was no way around it, now was the time! 

She walked out the back door, wearing only his white t-shirt and a sexy smile that had him sitting up, his dick hard and reaching for her all at the same time. 

She walked over slowly to him, seeing him ready to get up and come get her if she took any longer. She stood at arms distance, swaying her hips side to side as she slowly pulled his t-shirt up her hips, revealing just the faintest glimpse of her naked pussy. He moaned as he reached out and pulled her into his lap, sliding the huge shirt up to her waist.

"No-" she pulled it back down looking around.

"No ones out here." he said sliding it back up.

"There are a lot of people on the beach right now."

"They can't see us." he kissed her lips, pulling it above her breasts, "lift your arms." he whispered against her lips. She felt a little shy, running around in a skimpy bathing suit was one thing, but full nudity was something else entirely. She covered her large breasts and he smiled pulling her arms down to her sides.

"Are you sure?" she asked nervously even as she felt the craziest little rush of adrenaline as she sat there completely naked on his lap, outside on the back porch. 

"Relax baby, only I can see you." he murmured against her lips, running his finger tips across her hard nipples, his other arm across her back, holding her to him. "Dance for me now." he whispered lightly against her lips, his tongue tracing the outline before it slipped between her lips.

She let that internal beat of lust take over her body, her hips swaying and popping over his hardening cock. He held her tight to allow any movement she wanted and she had him worked up into a frenzy within just a few minutes. He watched her, her eyes closed her head back, her beautiful cinnamon tipped breasts bouncing with each movement, her hips moving so sensually over him, his cock surged every time she made contact. 

He pulled it out from his boxers letting it whack against her stomach; instinctively she rose to her knees. He ran the tip over her spread sex, his pre cum coating her naked flesh; he held her hips tightly as he positioned himself at her opening. she slid down his long thick cock, her knees spreading wider as she slowly slid lower, inhaling deeply as each thick inch slid in. his fingers bit deeply into her hips as he thrust the rest of himself inside of her, she cried out arching her back. He slid a hand up her back, pulling her to him, he took her pebble hard nipple into his mouth sucking it hard and grazing it with his teeth. 

***

Rip was almost entranced as he watched Aries Stark making love to this naked nymph who was grinding erotically against him. He watched in amazement as her large firm breasts bounced beautifully and felt a twinge of envy as Aries nipped at the hard tips. He couldn't stop the gasp as he walked closer to the back porch, taking pictures.

They both turned in the direction of the audible gasp and the series of bright lights that followed immediately after. Mimi squealed, turning away from the intruder, covering her breasts just as Aries grabbed his t-shirt and quickly wrapped it around her.


"What the fuck?!"" he roared ushering her towards the bungalow's back entrance.

"Aries, I know it's you," he started to plead, rip was ready to kiss ass and take numbers, he would get down on his knees if he had to. "Just listen."

Aries covered her from behind as she ran through the back screen door, than he shut it behind him. 

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MUTHER FUCKING MIND?!" He raged going towards Rip. Rip knew how to get out of the way of a raging celebrity.

"They think your dead Aries," he tried to reason with him. "a body was found washed up on the shore, the body fit your height, weight, hair color, but the teeth were smashed in and the fingers and toes were cut off., so the body could not be identified." Aries slowed down a little, stepping off the porch to stand in front of Rip who was cowering back a bit. Rip could almost see his reason battling his rage right now. "The latest word is they think Lana is a suspect in your murder."

"What?!" 

Mimi put her shirt on, than hearing the last sentence the man had said made her stop and go closer to the screen door. 

"It's gotten serious, your death is the most talked about, most famous unsolved mystery in history; and with Lana being pregnant, that just made it all the more tangled."

Mimi gasped. He heard it, that sound demanding his instant attention; he turned to her, seeing her step back, he quickly turned back to Rip

"Meet me tomorrow at 3, I'll give you your story." he said than turned and ran to the back door.

Rip actually felt bad, it was more than obvious that he really cared about the girl. 

Strange, in all the years he had known him, Aries had never had a serious or steady girlfriend, it had always been just the opposite. Aries was a serial dater, when he did date. He had more than his fair share of beautiful women, but nothing lasted. He had been with Lana the longest, which had really not been very long at all. 

Rip wasn't here to wreck relationships, he was here to kick start his career again. He turned away, shaking his head.

***

Aries opened the screen door, walking in.

"Mimi-"

"Who are you?" she asked, taking another step back away from him. 

"Come here." he said taking a step towards her, she took another step back.

"If you don't tell me I will go get that man and make him tell me, since he seems to know so much more about you than I do." she took another step back. He stopped and stood still, looking deep into her eyes, thinking how his world would crash if he lost and her. Now he might loose her just because he wasn't honest from the beginning. 




Luck Ch. 05



Why didn't he tell her sooner? Why had he waited so long?

"I'm not Jack Smith." he said with a frown. 

"Than who are you?" 

"I'm Aries stark." he saw her bottom lip quiver before she turned and ran from him. She grabbed the car keys off the stand, and he grabbed her, holding her tightly to him, his head bend down to her ear. "Talk to me, baby." he said desperately.

"You? I don't even know who you are!" she snapped, 

"You know me. I'm the same man that got you fired from your shitty job, the same man that you kissed and made love to, the same man that loves you, no matter what his name is."

"You don't fucking love me!" she cried out.

"Yes I do." he tried to hold her closer but she yanked away.

"If you loved me you would have told me who you were!" she turned to him, pointing her finger, her lungs burning, she had to take deep breaths to breathe, the air around her was filling her mouth and over filling her lungs. She had to get away from him. She turned and ran out of the bungalow going straight to his car; she got in and sped off, squealing the tires as she went. He cursed than looked over to see Rip pulling up beside him, Aries jumped in the car, slamming the door. 

"Follow that car." he snapped. Rip was more than eager to comply, just happy to have the man in his car, it meant a lot to his career, plus he knew he was the cause of this and he genuinely felt bad. "Be careful, don't let her see you."

"Why?"

"She's a terrible driver, if she thinks I'm chasing her, she'll speed."

"She's already speeding."

"That car can go a lot faster and trust me, she's not afraid to floor it." he watched her nervously.

They stayed a safe distance behind her; Aries heart was in his throat every time she swerved, than he finally relaxed when she started to drive a little better. 

"I want that role of film." Aries said.

"but-" he started to object.

"No buts, I don't want those pictures of her seen, I'll give you as many pictures of me that you want, but I'm taking that roll now." he said, Rip understanding his reason, nodded. Aries pulled it out of the camera, than stuffed it in his pocket.

"So why did you leave? You had everything." rip asked.

"Not everything." he said looking out the window, he didn't have anything until he met Mimi, and he would trade all of his fortune and fame just to be with her.

"What about Lana?"

"Come on rip, you know Lana as well as I do, that baby could be anyone's." he said, 

"You ain't lyin'." he said knowing damn well Aries was right. 

"She was seeing someone else before I left."

"Is that why you left?" Rip found it hard to believe Aries had any type of feeling for Lana, he had seen them when they were together, and there was nothing between them.

"Hell no!" he shook his head in disgust, "I left because I needed something real." he said and rip understood, fame and fortune brought invasion, intruders and stripped away all forms of privacy. 

"There going to arrest Lana." he said and Aries looked at him with a frown.

"Once they realize I'm alive they'll have to let her go."

He knew what he had to do, he could not let Lana be arrested for a murder she didn't commit, but he had one thing he had to take care of first.



Luck Ch. 06



The tears rolled down Mimi's face as she drove, she had never felt betrayal like this before. Wouldn't it be just her luck that the one person to ever betray her would be the first person she ever fell in love with, the man she was still deeply and completely in love with. She was so stupid! She had warned herself over and over again, but she hadn't even listened to her own good advice. 

Love was for the suicidal, the gluttons for punishment, the foolish and the unlucky!!! 

'FUCK LOVE AND FUCK LUCK!' Love was an exaggerated infection of the heart and Luck was dead!

Mimi squealed the car to an abrupt stop in front of Lyndsys ultra posh, high security apartment building. The front tire rolled up on the curb while the rest of the car was parked sort of slanted on the street. She jumped out of the car, mindless of the fact she was only wearing Jacks huge t-shirt and absolutely nothing else under neith. She ran barefoot to the main door. Thank god Alfred knew her, because dressed as she was he probably would not have let her in. He nodded, respectfully keeping his gaze down. She went to the lobby and rang the little pearl tipped gold buzzer with Lyndsy's name printed on the gold plate next to it. She rang it twice impatiently, than hearing a car pull up, she held it until Lyndsy answered.

"Who is it?" Lyndsy asked.

"It's Mimi, let me in." she said looking behind her to see Jack was in the passengers seat of the car. Luckily the valets who were now cursing as they parked her car were slowing down him and a line of cars forming behind him. "Hurry!" she cried and Lyndsy buzzed her up. Mimi sprinted to the elevator, relieved that it was ready and waiting for her.

Lyndsy hearing the panic in her friend's voice was already at the door waiting for her, she watched Mimi walk out of the elevator, sprinting down the hall to greet her.

"What's the matter?" she asked worried, than Mimi froze as the familiar buzz penetrated her ears and made her heart skip in her chest. 

"No!" Mimi started running as Lyndsy took a step inside to see who it was.

"Lyndsy it's Jack." that voice went straight through to Mimi's heart.

"Don't let him in!" she cried reaching for Lyndsy hand just as it went to press the button to let him in.

"It's Jack." she said looking at her strangely, reaching for the button again.

"It's not Jack." Mimi shook her head, tears burning her eyes, she wished it was Jack, she wished she would wake up this second and it will have all been a bad dream or a terrible joke. The pain was so intense she even wished she would wake up and have never of met Jack Smith.

"I need you to let me in Lyndsy." he pleaded, the desperation in his voice making tears instantly spring to her eyes.

"That's definitely Jack." Lyndsy said nodding her head.

"Yea, but he's not really Jack."

"Huh?"

"That's Jack's voice, but that's not Jack." Mimi tried to explain.

"Now I'm really confused, how is Jack not really Jack?" she asked in bewilderment.

"He's been lying about who he really is."

"What?" Lyndsy was genuinely confused.

"Lyndsy!" Aries pressed the buzzer again.

"His name is not Jack Smith."

"Yea right," she grinned, "I'm not falling for it." Now she hoped this was just a bad prank.

"I'm serious." Mimi grabbed her hand again, pulling it away from the button. Lyndsy finally saw the truth in her eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"How? Why?" she threw her hands up shaking her head in shock.

"I don't know."

"Who is he?"

"I don't know." Mimi frowned. He told her the name, but he could be lying about that to for all she knew, she didn't know what to believe, but she found it almost impossible to believe he was this famous movie star.

"Lyndsy you have to let me up, I need to talk to Mimi." Aries said and Lyndsy seeing the tears pool in Mimi's eyes pressed the speaker button.

"Jack?" she asked looking into Mimi's hurt eyes, wanting to know what the hell was going on, "What's your name?" she asked. 

"Lyndsy just let me up and I'll explain"

"Tell me what your real name is." Lyndsy took Mimi's hand.

"Aries Stark." his voice tore through the speaker and ripped through Mimi's vulnerable heart like bullets. Mimi, unable to control her emotions any longer, cried out. Hearing him say that damn name, was he crazy as well as a habitual liar? He heard her anguished cry and needed to hold her immediately, he needed to explain.

"Mimi please, baby, please talk to me." he pleaded, "just listen to me for a minute-"

"No!" she snapped pressing the speaker button, "You're a dirty filthy fucking liar! I trusted you," she cried hard

"I'm sorry, please-

"NO!" she snapped back to her anger, "I never EVER want to see you again!" she yelled than ran into Lyndsy room. Lyndsy watched he friend run off and put her head down. How the hell had this happened? 

What had just happened??? Right before she had gone to bed, her and Luci were just talking about how happy they were with the ways things were going with Mimi. They were running a lucrative restaurant, they were hopelessly in love with each other, unable to even keep their hands off each other, and they had just left for a little romantic rendezvous. Now they hated each other, Jack has a secret identity and Mimi was distraught and broken hearted.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED???

"I'm sorry Jack, she doesn't want me to let you in, try calling her later or something." she said realizing the blunder, "I mean...Aries." she said the word confirming the reality of this situation. Her best friend was dating an elite celebrity; a celebrity who the world thought was dead and murdered. 

"Holy shit." she said under her breath, dumbfounded. 

***

He stood looking up at the tall building, looking at Lyndsy's window. How could he leave like this? He couldn't bare the thought of her hating him. But how could he stay? He didn't like Lana, he never really had, but he had a conscious and no way would he let her just go to jail for his murder. He had to leave no matter how much he needed to stay. 

He stood there, the breath stolen from his lungs, cursing himself for not being honest from the beginning. What the hell had he been thinking? Did he honestly think he would be able to build a relationship on lies? His head was spinning viciously, how could he just leave her? His legs were happily cemented to the sidewalk below his feet, his body refusing to move, his brain demanding he go up there and make things right between them. What could he do? He couldn't force her to forgive him; he couldn't take back his lies and he couldn't let Lana rot in jail for a crime she didn't commit.

"What have I done?" he questioned himself as he took one last good look at the building, hoping to see her face just once before he got back into Rip's car and left her.

***

"Don't you think you should at least let him explain?" Lyndsy asked gently, pushing Mimi's hair back from her face.

"I've had enough explanation for one day." she said pitifully, turning her back to Lyndsy and burying her face in the pillow.

"Mimi-" she didn't have to see her face to know she was crushed.

"No!" she snapped at her friend, "I'm sorry." she said turning over, she didn't mean to take it out on Lyndsy, she loved Lyndsy. 

"I know." Lyndsy nodded, Mimi was the best friend a girl could ask for, she had been there for her during her sticky engagement, her on again off again relationship with the former love of her life. 

"I just-" she was crying too hard to finish.

Lyndsy didn't know what the hell was going on, her brain was still trying to register the fact that Jack Smith, the only man her best friend ever dated, had sex with and loved was actually Aries Stark. All Lyndsy knew was that regardless of her personal opinion or lack there of, her friend needed her right now. Lyndsy saw the tears threatening to spill from Mimi's eyes, the brunt of the betrayal written all over her face, so Lyndsy did the only thing that she could do to try to help, she pulled her into her embrace.

"Let it out." she said hugging her tightly as Mimi cried her heart out.

***

"I'm really sorry, man." Rip said with all honesty. If he felt bad before, it was nothing compared to what he felt this very second seeing the look of defeat on Arie's face. This particular movie star had been the smuggest of the smug, running through one woman after the other. Now he sat in Rip's passenger seat, his head in his hands, completely and utterly defeated. 

"It would have happened eventually." he said, his voice sounding insignificant and lame to his own ears. He could feel his heart splitting apart as he gazed out of the dirty car window watching the little town pass by by him. This had been his town, the place he was happy to call home. This town had brought him all the luck in the world but now he was leaving and he was leaving behind the one woman in this god forsaken world that he had truly, deeply and madly loved.

"Yea, but I should not have-"

"Forget it." he nodded, not wanting to discuss it any longer.

***

"Do you mind if I stay here tonight?" Mimi asked.

"Of course not, I'd prefer you would." Lyndsy said, relieved that she would not have to argue with Mimi to stay.

"Thanks, I don't want to be alone." she said with sadness in her eyes that Lyndsy had seen there before.

"Your never alone, Mi, you'll always have us." she smiled and hugged Mimi. "You need a long hit bath to relax your body and ease your mind." she pushed a long wave from her tear stained face.

"Yea." she nodded. Relaxation sounded like heaven. 

"Lots of Lavender oil, vanilla candles and chocolate."

"Bliss." Mimi plastered a fake smile on her face, Lyndsy knew that smile, she had seen it a time or two before.

"One more thing." she said as she walked over and poured a glass of wine into a crystal flute, "this will accent the candles and the chocolate." she smiled handing her the glass.

"Thank you." she said sincerely and Lyndsy smiled

"Go get done, Luci will be here soon."

***

Luci and Marz stood with their jaws dropped exceedingly low, their eyes as wide as they could possible go; Lyndsy had a grin on her face.

"You're lying." Luci said in disbelief.

"I swear it, he's really Aries Stark." she said "Think about it, think about him with out the beard,"

"I don't see it at all." Luci said shaking her head

"They're playing a trick, "Marz smiled, "and a MADD weak one, did you two run out of ideas?"

"For real this is the worse one yet, next time you should pick something more reasonable."

"More believable." Marz finished seasoning the steak as Luci continued to cut up the onions and peppers. Lyndsy raised a brow, than went into her room and got out a copy of the latest celebrity skinz, she grabbed a black marker and drew in a beard, moustache and colored in the pale blue eyes. She walked back out into the kitchen and dropped it on the counter before them; they both stopped what they were doing, 

"Now do you believe me?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"Oh shit." Marz said in shock

"It is him." Luci picked up the magazine, "I can't believe it."

"Holy shit!" Marz said as it sunk deeper into his brain.

"This is, this is-"Luci shook her head in disbelief and astonishment, "This is Aries."

"Jack is Aries."Marz and Luci looked at each othe in amzement.

"I know." Lyndsy said looking down at the doctored magazine cover, "How did we not see it?"

***

He and Rip took turns driving back to Hollywood. Aries was beginning to panic as he left; the further he drove from her and the thinner the air got, the worse he felt. It felt like an iron hand was inside his throat suffocating him with each squeeze; it was getting damn near impossible to breath. He could feel it taking over him, his head began to spin again, the brightest of lights flashed in and out of his eyes, his limbs jerked and spasmed and he could not bring air into his constricted lungs.

"Pull over." he snapped to Rip who promptly did as Aries requested. Aries bolted out of the car, taking deep breaths, trying to control his breathing. It felt like the hands were inside of his chest now- choking him and grabbing at his lungs.

He had to get himself under control. He dropped to his knees right there on the side of the road. He looked up to the sky, praying, wishing, and begging for her forgiveness and her understanding. How the hell did you leave half of your heart behind and just keep going?

*** Leslie Malone decided to move out of her posh penthouse, she couldn't bear another night there. Every room held a painful memory, every room held a secret the two of them had shared. She wasn't sure what the hell was going on, brad had still not contacted her and she had absolutely no idea where he was. The one thing she knew for a fact was that it was truly over this time, brad obviously wanted nothing to do with her. He had up and moved in with that whore he called his girlfriend.

It was time for her to move on, she couldn't live in her past and she refused to be crushed by a man who obviously had not truly loved her. She had been such a fool.

The tears poured down from her face as she packed her things and threw away all the mementos she had kept from her and brad over their time together.

She was cleaning out her junk drawer when she found her old cell phone. It was the one and only thing that Bradley had ever bought for her. Unfortunately it had broken a few days before he left her, maybe it had been an omen she had over looked, a sign of things to come. She couldn't even call out anymore, the only thing that worked was the answering machine and it still managed to take pictures.

She wanted to strip every trace of him from her life and she was ready to throw it away when she remembered the 1st message he had left her, telling her happy birthday and how much he loved her. 

She stood up than walked over and sat on the bed, opening the phone. To her complete and utter surprise she had a new message, from brad. Her heart raced, and the butterflies in her stomach had actually flown up into her throat. She listened to the message.

"Les, I need your help." it was brad and he was whispering, "I'm at Aries Starks mansion, I think I've been drugged, I need you to come get me, Leslie please, I'm sorry for everything, just come get me now, please, something's wrong, she's pregnant I think he's going to... "

The phone went dead and Leslie felt a chill that went to the very core of her bones.

***

Aries put on a baseball cap and his trusty sunglasses; he was back in Hollywood, and here they recognized him.

"Ask to speak to detective Angus." Rip said, "He's the most trustworthy guy and it's his case."

"Wait here, I'll be right back."

"I will."

He took a deep breath before walking into the police station.

"I need to speak to detective Angus."

"Is he expecting you?"

"No."

"What's the name?" 

"Jack Smith." he said the name for the last time, wishing for a life that he could not have. He watched the officer pick up the phone.

"There's a Jack Smith here to see you." he said than nodded, than hung up the phone. "Just have a seat; he'll be right with you. Aries nodded and went to sit down. Less than 5 minutes later his name was called.

"What can I do for you." Angus asked

"I have some information about the Aries Stark murder, if we could speak some where private."

"Of course." he said leading Aries into his small but functional office. He had heard every story in the book, every fable, tall tale, fantastic created works of fiction, elaborate schemes and straight up lies. At this point he had a dozen crazies who had confessed to the murder of Aries Stark, he had thousands who swore they lived next door to him, half as many who thought it was their roommate. But for some reason Angus knew straight off the bat that this man, whoever he was, had something very relevant that pertained to the case. "Have a seat." he motioned to the chair facing his desk, while he went and sat behind his desk. "So you have information about my case?" he asked

"Yes." Aries said, deciding the best way to tell him was to just go ahead and show him. Angus watched as the man took off his hat, than his sunglasses. He looked so familiar. As he continued to shed the disguise Angus almost gasped

"Aries stark." he said in surprise. It took a lot to shock him, he had seen a lot during his career, but this man managed to shock the hell out of the detective.

"Yes." Aries answered. Both men turned to the loud gasp, turning to see Cruz, his jaw to the floor, his eyes wide and a look of awe and total disbelief contorted his features.

"Y-your Aries Stark!" Cruz belted out a little too loud.

"Close the door." Angus said, not wanting the crowd that would gather once they realized Aries stark was in the office.

"You're alive!" Cruz said incredulously.

"Yes." Aries nodded

"Oh shit, can I have your autograph? Im a big-"

"Cruz." Angus stopped his partner than turned back to Aries, "I have a corpse with your name on it and I have a pregnant women in police custody for your murder."

"I know, I came as soon as I found out, it's the only reason I came back at all."

"I appreciate you coming back and clearing this mess up, and I hate to have to ask, but I am going to need you to stick around for a little longer, just until everything is straightened out."

"I understand, but I want to be discreet about this, I have a new life now, I don't want the paparazzi to find me." he said to the head detective in charge, "after everything is taken care of I have all intentions of disappearing again." he said. Angus could feel mans frustration, and sympathized with him. He imagined after a while all the intrusion and invasion would finally get to you and Aries stark had been on the top and in the publics eye for a long time.

"Than I don't recommend going home quite yet. Lana invited the media in and the paparazzi has the place surrounded watching her every move."

"Lana's living at my house?" he asked.

"Yes, she has been since we were first notified of your disappearance." he watched Aries reaction, he was not happy about this.

"Disappearance?"

"Miss Lutz called us and said you had just disappeared.

"She knew I was leaving."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure, she begged me not to go after i told her." Aries said with all certainty. 

"Thank you." Angus said as he made a metal note of the conflicting statements.

"You can contact me any time at this number," Aries grabbed a pen off his desk and wrote down his cell phone number than handed it to the detective. "Just let me know how I can help."

"Thank you Mr. Stark, your co-operation is much appreciated." he smiled and Aries knew immediately this was a trustworthy man. Some people exhumed such goodness and honesty it could easily be detected in their eyes and their smile. Detective Angus was one of those genuine people.

"Call me Aries." he said sliding his hat and sunglasses back on, than with a nod of the head, he discreetly left the office.

***

Lana had just dismissed Julio the pool boy after 3 hours of competitive sex. There was something about the guy she almost liked, he was sexy, had a phenomenal body and he could fuck for hours. If only he knew when to leave without being told, he would be the perfect toy. He was hanging around entirely too much now that they were fucking, but he didn't realize that was all he was to her, a good submissive fuck.

Lord knows she needed it after a rather distasteful and humiliating night in jail. Thank god she still had access to Aries bank account or she would probably still be in jail. All she had to do was write a check and send it with her chauffer to cash and presto, she made bail.

When she saw dectective Angus at the door she was happy she had not let Julio talk her into another round before he left. Angus had already caught her in the middle of the act before, once was more than enough.




Luck Ch. 06



"What can I do for you detective?" Lana asked, looking down her $5000 nose at him, pursing her enhanced lips.

"I'm here to let you know that we are dropping all charges being brought against you." he said and she looked at him warily.

"Why?" she asked suspiciously, wondering what trick he was up to now. That detective was a wily old one and she didn't trust him at all.

"Aries Stark is not dead."

"What? What do you mean he's not dead? You saw the body yourself!"

"A body that is not his."

"How do you know?" she demanded.

"He told me."

"The corpse?" she asked wondering if the old man was loosing it.

"No, Aries stark, he came into my office to inform us that he was still alive and well." Angus said watching Lana struggling to achieve a surprised look of joy. 

"Aries is alive?" It was than that she realized her predicament, she would be found out for the lies about their relationship, Aries would deny they were engaged; he would shed light to the fact that the baby could be one of three different men that he knew of. He would also send her packing; she had to do something and quick! "Oh thank you god! Thank you!" she exclaimed dramatically, falling to her knees like a pre-programmed robot.

What she still hadn't realized was that angus could read the truth in anyone's eyes, and miss Lana Lutz, was not the least bit happy about Aries return, Angus could see the anger right below the surface. She might not be guilty of killing Aries, but she was guilty as sin of something, the eyes never lied. Now he had to figure out what it was. 

Lana waited until he was gone before she started to formulate her plan. She couldn't figure out how Aries was alive. She knew he had to have eaten the lunch she packed him or at least drank one of the sodas. What the hell had happened? She had sprinkled a libeal amount of poison on everything he had taken to eat and in every single soda he had, a whole damn case.

*** Leslie looked at the paper, her heart sliding straight to her stomach. If Aries Stark was alive, than who washed up on shore? Leslie got up and started to frantically pace, overcome with fear and worry. She knew only one person who looked enough like Aries that he could pass for his corpse. Brad looked so much like Aries; most people thought they were related. 

She snatched up her cell phone, brads message still haunting her. He had said he was at Aries house, Lana's fiancée. So why was brad at the house of the man whose fiancée he was having sex with? None of it made sense, but she was determined to find out something! She had to know where brad was and wasn't, she had to know that he was alright.

"Hello?" Lana managed to answer the phone in a snobbish manner.

"Lana?"

"Who's calling?"

"Leslie Malone, I'm just calling to see if you had heard from Bradley at all, he-"

"No I have not, and don't call here anymore!" Lana snapped than slammed down the phone. 

"Bitch." Leslie hissed as she hung up her phone. Well if Lana was not going to give her answers, she knew who would. 

Leslie threw on her jacket; she needed to find out for herself what the hell was going on and she would start with the police station.

***

Something was amuck; Detective Angus could smell it in the air and feel it in his bones. At this point he was truly at a loss, his entire case was up in the air, filled with holes, he had no idea who the victim was; he had no case, no suspects, nothing. He had to start from scratch, he had a few of his men pulling up missing persons who fit the description as their victim, but they were finding nothing. 

Something was amiss, someone was lying and there was a much more intriquit layer to the story than anyone was letting on. He knew in his gut that this case and corpse was tied into Lana Lutz and Aries Stark somehow.

***

Aries Stark had everything a man could want at his disposal; everything he had ever dreamed of owning filled his enormous place. The most expensive furniture, priceless pieces of art, fame beyond reason and money beyond measure.

Still he was more miserable than he had ever been in his life. 

He sat on the massive back porch swing of his secluded beach house; it was made thick bamboo, as wide as a twin mattress, covered in thick fluffy bright colored pillows that he knew Mimi would really appreciate. He imagined what she would be doing right now if she were here with him. He pictured her lying on the swing with him, dazzling him with that sensual smile, peeling off her clothes than making love to him as the porch swing swung them into bliss.

But Mimi was not here. She hated his guts.

This was his beach house, the one and only place in the world he ever felt comfortable, and the one and only place he ran to when he wanted to be alone. Now it seemed empty and cold, every room he entered was filled with a stiffling void, there was no life with in the walls and he had never felt so isolated and alone.

He missed her so bad, he could barely stand it.

He needed her now more than ever; he came back to paparazzi frenzy worse than when he had left. The eye of the world was on him, and that was exactly what he had been trying to eliminate from his life. Everyone wanted a piece of him and he knew it was just a matter of time before the paparazzi found his little hideaway.

Rip and detective Angus were the only ones that knew where he was and they were taking it to their graves. Rip came by a lot, always bringing Aries things he needed and the latest news.

Rip said they were offering Aries obscene amounts of money just for an interview he was being offered hundreds of millions of dollars from top directors, thousands of scripts, everything. 

He was bigger than any other celebrity had ever been and he hated it. All he wanted was anonymity and Nomi Larue.

***

Nomi was existing on her denial alone; she refused to think about Aries, she refused to let him even enter her mind. She had to cut all emotional ties to him no matter how much it was tearing her heart apart. Since it was impossible to turn back time and never meet Jack, she would live her life as if he had never laid eyes on the man. 

She refused to turn on the television since he was the main topic on each channel, the mysterious disappearance than reappearance of Aries Stark had the world at attention and dying for more. She refused to even look at his real face, the face she remembered was a parlor trick, costume make up and since she was hell bent on forcing herself to forget that face, there was no way in hell she wanted his real face in her head.

Even just the mention of his name brought a deep sadness and feeling of loss to her and stopping and thinking about him brought her to a very dark, bleak place that she would never allow herslef to enter again. 

She was a mess and she didn't know what to do. Even if she felt any type of remorse from her reaction to the news of his true identity, there was nothing she could do about it now, he was long gone. 

***

Leslie stood looking down at the unrecognizable body. She didn't need to see his features to know, she could feel it.

"Is there a scar on the back of the right leg?" Leslie asked, her voice shaky as she stood there looking down at the body.

"Yes, a crescent shaped scar." Cruz answered.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice was weak.

"Yes." Angus answered. Even after years of seeing unfortunate family members have to identify their dead loved ones, he had never gotten immune to it. Every time it broke his heart just like the first time. It was part of what drove him, that deep compassion he felt from the family and loved ones. It wasn't hard to put himself in their position. 

Leslie's bottom lips started to quiver just as the tears began to run from her eyes.

"He left me, he was having an affair." she cried, her emotions over whelming her, "I still loved him, I still believed he would-" she tried to gain control of the grief over whelming her, "come back, to me." she cried, the damn bursting and she broke down in deep grief filled sobs, slumping over on him. Detective Angus wrapped his arms around her in a fatherly fashion, thinking of his own daughter. 

He knew people well and he could see through the most well planned out lies and any thought he had of this girl killing him in a jealous rage, left his mind as he closely watched her reaction. 

No way in hell could she have committed this crime, her sorrow was too real, too raw and to hopeless.

"It was her, I'm telling you. Brad was mad about something, he was sared-"

"Who?" Angus asked

"That evil bitch he left me for, Lana Lutz." she cried. Angus and Cruz looked at each other as she tore her old cell phone out of her Versace purse, "Here listen to this!" she handed it to Detective Angus.

"What is this?"

"He left me a message, but he left it on my old cell phone, so I didn't listen to it in time." she cried harder, her entire body jerking with her sobs. He handed her another tissue. "Maybe if I had listened to it in time, I could have saved him?" she asked looking into his eyes and he saw all the 'what if's' and 'if only I had of's' already forming in her grieving mind.

"No, there was nothing you could have done except endanger yourself and I am sure he would have been upset if you had put yourself in harms way." he tried to comfort her.

"I guess." she sniffled shaking her head, "I have to get out of here-"

"I understand." he turned to Cruz, "could you walk her to her car?" he asked and Cruz nodded.

"No, please, I just need to be by myself right now, but thank you." she rushed out of the room speeding through the police department and straight to the doors that would take her out of this morbid god-forsaken place. She leaned against the doors taking a deep breath of the fresh air, before she went down to her knees.

"Why Bradley?" she cried, "Why?" she let out a little of her misery, than as quickly as she had began, she stopped. She rose to her full height and managed to compose herself. Now was not the time to be sad and weak, she would grieve later, right now, she needed to find out who murdered Bradley. 

***

Angus and Cruz waited until she was completely out of the station before they listened to the message.

"Les, I need your help." Brad's voice whispered through the cell phone speaker, "I'm at Aries Starks mansion, I think ive been drugged, I need you to come get me, Leslie please, im sorry for everything, just come get me now, please, she's pregnant I think he's gonna.. Kill... me-"

"It keeps coming back to Lana." Angus stated. Some thing was a muck and Angus could feel it in his bones. At this point the entire case was up in the air and filled with holes. 

***

Mimi would not answer her phone and Aries was getting desperate. He was so worried about her he couldn't think straight so he called Marz.

"About time you called me man." Marz said. Aries smiled ear to ear hearing those words.

"I wasn't sure-"

"Yo, you'll always be my homie no matter what. Besides I don't blame you, I wouldn't have told them who I was either, are you kidding me?" he chuckled, "everyone would have known you were here by sunset." he joked and for the first time since Aries had left there, he actually laughed. It was only a phone call, but he felt a little bit of that feeling he felt when he was there. It felt good to be a part of that world, now that he was back in his previous old, cold world. He wished he was there right now, with Mimi in his lap, or at the table watching her as she cooked. He missed watching her cook. 

"So how is everything?"

"Man, it's been panic time since you left. Mimi locked herself in her room for 3 days, Luci and Lyndsy refused to leave her there alone. She is in the foulest mood I've ever seen her in and she refuses to work at the restaurant."

"She quit?"

"Quit, refuses to go in or even talk about it or you. So I had to take over the management duties until you or her come back."

"Thanks." he said, instantly worrying about Mimi.

"I got a stack of money for you."

"Give it to Mimi."

"She won't take it."

"Make her take it."

"I keep trying, but you know how stubborn she is Ja- Aries." he stumbled on the name.

"Yea," he said with a side grin thinking about that stubborn streak of hers.

"Luci has been trying to get her to take it since you left, but Mimi won't budge."

"Keep trying." he said wishing he was there.

"I will."

"Thanks."

"Don't worry Jack, she'll come around, she just needs a little time." Marz said, wishing there was something he could do for him. He honestly understood why he had withheld his true identity, Aries stark is too big of a name to live anonymously. They would have caught him along time ago. Marz probably would have done the exact same thing if he were in Aries shoes. there is no way in hell he would be able to Luci the truth, that big mouth would have it spread across ton by sunset.

***

Mimi had been swimming for hour and now her body was exhausted and cramped. No matter how hard or long she swam, nothing could take away the vicously beautiful memories that were plauging her with despair. She layed back on the grass, looking up at the pale moon light allowing her mind to escape back to that place when she remebered feeling utter bliss and deeply loved. 

Just for tonight she would forget her unlucky life and the misery that would try to take her to her back down to her knees the minute she woke up. Tonight she would forget that Luck was dead and she would experience the love of the lucky, even if it was only while she slept. 



Luck Ch. 07



Mimi got a job at the little gas station down the street, nothing spectacular mind you; no gourmet dishes, no sweet smell of gumbo in the morning, no inventive recipes, and absolutely no cooking experience required. At any given time during her shift, she was likely to be covered with grease, oil, dirt, scum and other various forms of debris, but it was perfect for her. Besides she couldn't complain, it kept her busy and her imagination under control; the unlimited amount of hours preventing her mind from conjuring up images of Jack- Aries- Smith— Stark— whatever his name is. Other than the abundance of available hours, which she was using to work herself into complete exhaustion, she had also made a new friend, her boss Beverly Beazley.

Beverly Beazley was one of the most caustically sarcastic, shit-talking, chain smoking, brass-balls sixty-five year old Mimi had ever met. Bev, as she preferred to be called, liked to do things the hard way just to learn a lesson, she took the bull by the horns, never backed down from a fight, cursed like a sailor, dressed like she worked on wall street, and always smelled like wilted roses, gasoline and fresh cloves. She was a verbal assassin who would sit as silent and unconcerned as a snake until provoked. Mimi couldn't help but love the spitfire; her honesty was so brutal that there was never any room for lies. 

"You need to take tomorrow off Mimi, now I insist," she said as she ran a hand through her short and sassy, spiked silver hair.

"Tomorrow, Bev," Mimi just smiled to herself, knowing there was no way in hell she could mentally afford to take a day off.

"Hell sugar, you've been saying 'tomorrow' for three days now," Bev's bright jade eyes bulged as she shook her head. "You been going for thirteen days straight." She took a long drag from her clove cigarette before continuing, "I'm starting too really like you and as we know, I don't get on well with many folks, so I'd hate to have to scrape your dehydrated ass off my gas station floor." She looked down at Mimi through her grease smudged, designer, black rimmed glasses. 

***

Lana Lutz had quickly moved her things and herself out of Aries' mansion the minute Detective Angus had dropped the news that Aries was still alive. She was in panic mode now, afraid her lies would be blowing up in her face soon. Lana had gone through his large mansion with a fine tooth comb, removing incriminating evidence and washing away any thing that proved she was there. She could not determine the difference between what could hurt her and possibly have her locked behind bars and what was just every day living debris, so she put EVERYTHING in a trash bag than burnt it out back in the incinerator. She just refused to take any chances with her life and her ability to walk up and down the street if she wanted. Prison was not for her and she just cringed at the thought, no shopping, no gourmet meals she never finished, no maids, butlers, chauffeurs, no sex and no freedom. 

***

Detective Angus went to Lana Lutz's new Upper East Side apartment. He had a trusty old tactic he liked to use in dire straits; one that had never failed to make the guilty sing like untrained parakeets. He knew after a few minutes of mindless banter that his plan was indeed working on Lana, as she was almost squirming, her neon guilt scribbled all over her face.

"So, when was the last time you saw Brad Lowell?" Detective Angus questioned. 

"The night I was forced to break it off with him." Lana looked down at him, trying to appear unconcerned, despite the fact that she was scared shitless. How had he found her? She thought she had hid her tracks well and never expected anyone to find her. Hell the paparazzi had not even found her yet.

"Forced?"

"Well, when Aries found out about our affair, he went wild with jealousy, demanding I end it immediately," she lied, trying for the life of her to squeeze out at least one tear.

"Aries Stark?"

"Yes," she sniffled despite the fact that she still had yet to shed a single tear. "He was so angry, he rushed over to confront Brad, and tell him to stay the hell away from me."

"And did Aries confront Brad?"

"I never knew." She was batting her eyes like a brain dead ding bat. "That was the last time I ever saw either of them again," she added. 

Angus saw the charade in Lana's lying eyes; he watched her squirm and turn her head from his perceptive glare. Did she think he was some new fool who would honestly buy her act? He had been a Detective long enough to know acting when he saw it, and to see through bad acting easily. And, unfortunately for Ms. Lutz, her acting skills were limited and overly dramatic at best.

"Ms. Lutz, may I ask how you neglected to inform us of this crucial piece of evidence that is obviously more than relevant to the case," he said carefully keeping all of his rising emotions from his voice.

"It didn't seem important at the time, Aries was always going off on a tangent, I didn't really believe he was going over to Brad's when he said it," she shrugged. "But if you will excuse me, I have personal business to attend to," she said as she nodded curtly and walked away.

Angus watched her walk away with a slight grin on his face. He was amazed at how easily she could turn her bad acting off; she had gone from trying to muster up tears for a dramatic effect to stone cold in 13 seconds flat.

***

"BRAD LOWELL!?!" Aries barked incredulously, "The actor Brad Lowell?"

"Yes," Angus said, sitting next to his partner and across from Aries.

"You're sure it was his body?" he asked his temper calming with his increasing concern.

"Yes."

"And you think I killed him?" Aries shook his head in disbelief, almost laughing. "Over Lana?"

"Ms. Lutz said that the last time she saw you, you were on your way to confront Mr. Lowell and tell him to stay away from her," Cruz read from Lana's statement.

"Did she," he answered, wondering what Lana's manipulative ass was up to now.

"Yes. Tell us about your relationship with Mr. Lowell."

"I didn't have one, I think I met him once at some movie premiere," he said. "There was some trouble with him getting in the door." He remembered the night, it was the first time he had seen the man that Hollywood was buzzing about due to the strong resemblance he had to Aries.

"Did you have any feelings of resentment towards him?" Angus asked.

"For what?"

"The man has your face, he's been trying to take over your movie career, and than you find out he's sleeping with your fiancée, it would make any man snap," Cruz said, but Aries was already shaking his head in objection.

"First of all, I could care less who does or does not look like me. Second, I left my entire life behind to get away from a movie career that I hated, a career that has brought me nothing but invasion, paranoia and stalkers hell bent on exposing every move I make. I wish Brad had of taken my fame, hell I would hand it over freely to him. Last and most important, Lana is a slut who has been fucking other men since the second night she fucked me. She's like a parasite, a leach that won't let go, she is a money hungry, fame obsessed, over rated groupie," he said with a look of pure disgust. "And she was NEVER my fiancée," he clarified. 

"She has been saying the two of you were engaged at every press conference since the day of your disappearance." Cruz shrugged.

"Yea, well, she says a lot of things that aren't true." 

"She says it is your baby." Angus threw the words at him just to gauge his reaction. 

"It's a chance, it's also a chance it's one of the three other guys she was fucking at the time," he said casually, his words empty of any jealousy but sparked with bitter anger.

"And that never bothered you?"

"That's the only reason I stayed with her as long as I did. She cheated so much she never had the time to question me about all the other women I was sleeping with."

***

"I'm not charging him yet," Angus said to Cruz, as they watched Aries Stark walk to his car. 

"I agree, I don't think he did it. He's pretty straight up. Now Lana on the other hand," he shook his head. "I don't believe a word that comes out of that woman's mouth."

"We have enough circumstantial evidence to bring Lana back in, and this time I want to bring her chauffer in too." Angus had a feeling about the chauffer, he wasn't sure what that feeling was yet, but he knew he had to talk to the chauffer.

***

One didn't become a schemer over night; it was something that poisoned the blood from birth. Lana was the best schemer she knew, and normally she would smile with pride as she worked her skill. At the moment, however, she was not smiling as she piled her suitcases into the trunk of her rental car with fear induced haste; she was getting the hell out of here as fast as she possibly could. She wasn't sure how long the little lies about Aries and Brad would last before collapsing. She was certain that once Aries denied her allegations, they would head for her without hesitation. Well, she wouldn't be there; they would not find her until she was ready to be found.

At this point she was getting trapped in her own little web, and she had to get out of dodge before it all exploded in her gorgeous face. Sure her main goal in life was to regain her fame, but not at the cost of her own freedom. She needed to produce some home-made evidence of her own, and plant it at the right place at the right time. Crafting the false evidence would be the easy part, but getting back onto any of Aries properties would be tricky.

***

Lyndsy and Luci sat across from Mimi at the funky little beatnik coffee shop. They knew their friend better than she knew herself and, above all else, were positive Mimi would use her stubbornness before she used her reason. She was hard headed and superstitious, but she was never cold, despondent or uncaring of those close to her. This was something else then just her natural stubbornness, something was wrong.

"Are you smoking?" Lyndsy looked at her as if Mimi had lost her mind.

"Cloves, they're pretty good," Mimi answered, taking a small drag from the aromatic cigarette. Both girls looked at their friend strangely. If they had ever been worried about her before, they were almost panicked now. She was not snapping out of this one. With each strange tragedy she had changed a little, come up with a new superstition, but now she was just like someone else, someone they did not even know. 

"Did you read the paper?' Lyndsy said, dropping it on the brightly colored table and sliding it in front of Mimi. 

Mimi looked down at the picture of Aries Stark; it was the first time she had ever seen him out of disguise. He looked so different, so foreign, yet so very familiar. Even though the eyes looked different, they were his eyes; she could recognize them even though the color was off. To bad it was the only thing she could recognize. Mimi pushed the paper away and turned her head to the beautiful chocolate skinned goddess, in a gorgeous floor length gown made of rags, who stood on the generically lit stage, gently forcing her melodic poem on the ears of the unappreciative coffee shop patrons.

"Why come to poetry hour and not listen?" Mimi said to herself, taking a healthy sip of her caramel latté. "No one listens anymore, but than why should they." She took a long pull from her clove cigarette. "No one ever tells the truth." 

"He may go to prison, Nomi," Lyndsy said seriously, trying to get through to her friend.

"For murder," Luci added with a concern visible in the frown on her face.

"That's not my business," she said although it killed her. "Besides, maybe he did it; he was running away from something and living under an alias." She shook her head taking another long drag, "sounds suspicious to me."

"Nomi, you know better than that," Lyndsy scolded, looking very disappointed.

"How do I know better?" Mimi asked, getting a little irritated that they would not drop the subject.

"Jacks not capable of that." Luci shook her head.

"How do we know what he is and isn't capable of when we don't even know who he is? And his name is not Jack, Luci."

"Sorry." Luci frowned in shock; Mimi had NEVER spoken to her like that before.

"I'm sorry Luci, I didn't mean to snap." Mimi immediately apologized seeing the hurt all over Luci's face. Mimi shook her head, what was wrong with herself? Why was she treating everyone so terribly? 

"It's alright." Luci said in sadness, Mimi was treating everyone around her like suspicious strangers. She was also treating everyone like shit, but no one more than her own self.

"No it's not, I shouldn't be taking anything out on you two." She hung her head in shame.

"Alright, so devils advocate all the way, but he really does love you—" Lyndsy interjected, wanting to change that particular subject.

"It's so obvious," Luci added. 

"And this is murder Mimi, this is serious, he needs you right now," Lyndsy pleaded.

"I'm sure his pregnant fiancée is all he needs," she responded, with more pain and concern than bitterness. 

"She's the one who set him up," Luci argued.

"The papers say Aries was never engaged to her." She wouldn't add that the papers were all united in defense of Aries Stark. To the worlds utter belief they were working together helping to solve the case and prove him innocent. 

"I don't want to talk about it," Mimi said, and took a sip of her caramel latté.

"You need to stop being so stubborn Mimi,"

"You should at least call him; Marz he isn't doing well," Luci said.

"It's not my business," she said softly, in a way that left nothing open for discussion. 

***

Angus and Cruz stood in the door way looking at Lana's living room, bright crimson spots of blood stained her ivory couch, a bloody handprint was on the wall and the initial 'A' on the white carpet, but there was no body and Ms. Lana Lutz was no where to be found.

"Something's not right," Angus said, his senses on overload. 

"It's to tidy," Cruz observed, looking at the blood on the ceiling. "Way too obvious," he added.

"This crime is a sham," Angus concluded, his eyes sweeping over the room again. 

"I was thinking the same thing," Cruz assented.

"We're going to handle this like we would any other high profile homicide case." Angus turned to Baxter, his blood splatter expert, "what do you see?"

"I see a lot of chaos, the layout of the blood seems more deliberate." He looked at the ceiling than began to take pictures of the blood streaks. 

"I need a lot of pictures," Angus said.

"You see something don't you," Cruz stated, knowing his partner well.

"Maybe." 

***

"Where were you last night Aries?" Angus asked him.

"At home." 

"Was anyone with you?" Cruz asked.

"No."

"You were alone the entire night?" Angus questioned.

"Yes." 

"Did you happen to see Ms Lana Lutz last night?" he asked.

"No." Aries looked at Angus, his irritation getting to him "What is this about?"

"Ms. Lutz is missing."

"Missing?"

"Yes and since there was a significant amount of blood at the crime scene-"

"Blood? No," he shook his head, "this isn't right, this is a set up-"

"Until we find Ms. Lutz we have to handle this as a possible homicide, since Ms. Lutz is currently in the center of another high profile homicide case we are treating this very carefully."

"So any information you have could be very beneficial to us and you," Cruz finished.

"I don't have any information; I haven't talked to her since I left," Aries assured. 

"Anything, even if it seems insignificant may be very useful."

***

Angus looked at the pictures spread out before him, it was a woman with a strong resemblance to Lana Lutz, but the face was so covered in blood it was impossible to know the truth. But what Angus did know for a fact was the body was definitely in Lana's apartment. The note that was sent was blunt and to the point; it directly accused Aries Stark as Lana Lutz murderer. The person who wrote the note was very careful not to reveal their identity, but did let it be known that they had been hiding in Lana's closet while the murder was being committed. He looked over at the bloody hammer and the bloody knife already marked as evidence, on top of his desk.

"It's just too obvious." Cruz said shaking his head, stalking from one side of the office to the other. Angus was silently studying the evidence before him. His gut told him it was wrong, that the evidence lied. "Aries is not a stupid man, why would he leave 2 different murder weapons from 2 different homicide cases just lying around his house? And why the hell would he take pictures? It's just way too obvious!" Cruz shook his head pacing back and forth venting his frustration. 

"I have no choice but to arrest him. The knife is covered in Lana's blood and the hammer is covered in Brad Lowell's blood" "It's not fair; we know he didn't do it!" Cruz stomped his foot like an angry child. This was the one part of his job that he hated. He hated malicious interference, he hated knowing some one was obviously being set up and the evidence said differently. He was young for his field, but he knew a lot, he had a good eye for this, he loved his work. It was the reason Cruz had never been married, never had time for a relationship. He was hell bent on solving crimes since the day he had watched his mother's brutal murder. He had been young and defenseless and lucky to be alive, but he was still plagued with the 'what ifs'. "The truth is always fair, unfortunately it is sometimes disguised so well it's unrecognizable as the truth." he answered vaguely but Cruz, knowing the old man well, knew exactly what he meant.

"So the lie becomes the truth."

"Exactly."

***

Aries sat on a stained mattress, on the bottom bunk bed, staring absently at the stone wall in front of him, wondering how the hell he had sunk to this point in his life. Just a few months ago he had the world in his hand and the moon in his pocket, he had finally found the love of his life, he had a job he actually liked and he was happier than he had ever been since his childhood. Now today he was sitting in a jail cell accused of murder.

"I got a plan." It was Rip on the other side of the jail cell, leaning against the bars. Aries had been lost in his own head since his arrest. He had cut himself off from everyone, but he still allowed Rip to come, even though Aries was past the point of talking. 

Aries had always had an over active survival mode embedded deep inside him; even when times got unbearable, he was able to keep himself together until that fight inside of him finally reared its head. But some time during his confinement, he had just given up. It was not his intention, and it wasn't premeditated, but it had happened. He was sick of thinking, sick of caring, sick of worrying, sick of being in love, sick of it all! HE WAS DONE! 

"I brought you this, you took the second roll of film, but I still had a role from the first time I saw you at the restaurant," he said, wishing he could do something; he laid the picture on the floor and slid it under the bars. He stood up, putting his hat back on his head. "I'll be back to see you tomorrow." Rip said looking at Aries wishing he would at least respond. He put his hat back on his head than forced himself to walk away from the cell. He left the police station with a mission and a strict agenda. "Just hold on Aries," Rip said as he got into his car and pulled out his thick case file. "I'm going to get you out of there, buddy." 

Aries turned his head to look at the picture on the floor than he slowly rose to his feet for the first time in days, and walked over to it. He stood looking down at the two figures embracing. He could make out her long dark waves. He bent down and picked it up, remembering the day that he had her up against the side of the restaurant, kissing her. His heart fell to the pit of his stomach as he looked at them together, wanting desperately to hold her again, to taste her lips. He dropped the picture with an unbearable sadness, unable to look any longer. The pain of their separation and her hatred for him was too painful, and he found himself overwhelmed with it. It hurt worse than being accused of murder.




Luck Ch. 07



***

Angus didn't feel right about having to put Aries Stark behind bars, so the second he locked that jail cell, Angus was already in the process of trying to have him released. The only problem he had was the judge was being a stickler for the rules, and since Aries had skipped town for such a long time, he was reluctant to release him on his own recognizance

Now that they had pictures of Lana's corpse, they wanted to proceed as a normal homicide case and list her as murdered. Angus knew that was the wrong thing to do, just as well as he knew Lana was indeed alive. Her luggage was gone, all of her jewelry and personal items. Why would Aries take those things? He dam sure didn't need it; he had more money than Lana ever had. Did he do it to make it look as if she had been robbed? If he went to those lengths to make it look like she had been randomly robbed and murdered, wouldn't he be smart enough to at least remove the bloody letter 'A' from the wall? If Lana had indeed marked him as her killer with her last breaths of life than an intelligent murderer would have wiped it away before he even removed the body. There were so many strange angles to this case, so many weird complexities. It also didn't help that the gossip was already spreading, every weirdo within the state was in the police station confessing or accusing. He was also to find out very quickly that the people of their city had their own idea of what had happened and were spilling their guts to every reporter and news crew that asked.

Right now, Angus needed to focus on finding Ms. Lutz, since he was convinced she was still alive and well. He had a few ideas where to look, but he had to be careful and cover his own tracks.

***

"I'm going to see him and that's the end of it," Marz said to Luci, who shook her head.

"That's not a good idea, not yet."

"Bump that, I'm going. What's going on between him and Mimi is between him and Mimi, but he is my friend too Luci, did you forget that?" He asked seriously.

Luci was completely torn; she knew that the two of them had become close friends. Marz was a straight up type of brother who stood by his word, he had met few people like himself in life. Luci had to admit that Jack, despite his little lie about his identity, was also as straight up as they came. Hell, she loved Jack to death, it was hard for her to know he was rotting in jail and not go at least see him. But that was just not possible right now, Mimi would see that as a betrayal and she felt she had been betrayed enough. Luci refused to go there with her, and since Aries was not even allowed to be mentioned in a discussion, she decided to leave it alone for right now and not push it. She knew in her heart Mimi would see things clearly in her own time, she would realize and understand the reasons why Aries had done what he had.

Lyndsy on the other hand was another whole story, she did what she always did; what she felt was best for her friend.

***

"You're taking his side?" Mimi asked, looking at her friend in disbelief.

"No I'm not taking any sides—" Lyndsy tried to reason with an irate Mimi.

"Don't you think you should be taking MY side?" she blurted.

"NO! Your side is making you miserable! Your side is plain old fashioned stubbornness! You know he loves you-"

"How do you know? You don't know him!" she cried, throwing up her hands. "I don't even know him!" 

"I do know him—"

"No, everything he said was a lie!"

"You can't fake love, I saw it"

"Yea, well he won awards for those acting skills." She shook her head, "I have to go."

"Mimi!" she grabbed her best friends arm, "I'm done with the 'we'll talk later' shit, I have been your best friend my entire life! You were always the most healthy, happy, positive upbeat girl I'd ever known. Than I watched that girl fade when your father died and your mother lost her mind, than I watched you almost completely fade away when your mother died, but I watched you pick yourself back up AGAIN and brush yourself off and continue with life the best you knew how. You never let life get you down, until that damn fire." The tears ran from Lyndsy's eyes like a dam had broken. "Then I watched you turn into some other girl, some one I don't know, and I can't even recognize my Mimi anymore. Than you met Jack."

"His name is not Jack."

"I could give a fuck what his name is!" she snapped in anger, she was baring her heart here and Mimi was still using only her stubborn part of her brain, well Lyndsy had more than enough of that. "You listen to me and you listen to me good Nomi Larue," she pointed a finger at her best friend, and spoke firmly. "I watched you come back to life, right before my eyes, the one thing I had been praying for, just to have you back to you and now because he lied, because he hid his identity, you go back to worse than what you were before? I will not stand by and silently watch you fade away like your mother!"

"Did you expect me to sit quietly and wait for him?"

"No but I expected you to at least take care of yourself," she returned, waving her hand before her face and frowning in disgust. "Fuck Mimi you stink, you haven't changed your clothes in days, you don't cook anymore and when was the last time you ate? Who are you? And since when do you not let people defend themselves or at least rationally explain why they did what they did? You should have at least given him a chance to talk!"

"Talk about what? The family he left back home when he ran away? Or maybe his pregnant fiancée? Come on Lyndsy what kind of a man leaves their pregnant fiancée? What kind of a man starts another life with another woman when he is expecting a child with his fiancée?" the tears flooded her face unabashed, soaking her shirt. 

"I don't believe that she is his fiancée, that woman set him up Mimi."

"Do you know for a fact? How certain are you about anything concerning Aries Stark?" she questioned, then, shaking her head, realized what she was doing. "I'm sorry Lyndsy, I love you more than anyone on this earth, but your wrong about him, he tricked us." She hugged Lyndsy quickly, and then pulled back. "I gotta go, I'll call you in the morning," she said, then walked off.

Lyndsy watched her go before she plopped down in her chair, her head in her hands and her elbows on the table. Mimi had been through a lot in her short life, and Lyndsy had been there through every minute of it with her. There had been a few times when Lyndsy waited for Mimi to crack, but she never did. She was a natural survivor who had been able to bring herself back to form. Until now. It had finally gotten to her, all of it, she had been stripped of her parents, her business, her cat, everything she ever owned and now she felt she had been stripped of the only love of her life. 

In return Mimi had always been there for Lyndsy, when ever she needed her, Mimi was always there. Growing up had not been a pleasant experience for Lyndsy and she had spent most of her life with the Larue family. Lyndsy even had her own room, but she and Mimi mostly slept in Mimi's room. Mimi's mother had finally bought another bed and put it in Mimi's room, so Lyndsy would have a bed in both rooms. She always did wonderful little thins like that and since Lyndsy's own mother really didn't seem to care to much, Mrs. Larue basically became Lyndsy's full time mother. She grew up side by side with Mimi and she was much more of a sister than a friend. So if Mimi had spent her childhood trying to take care of Lyndsy, Lyndsy decided after Mimi's father death that she would help take care of Mimi in return.

If only Mimi wasn't so hard headed she would be able to see that love hadn't left her, love was still there, ready and waiting for her to pull her head out of her ass! 

***

Rip didn't have many friends in his life. His over zealous drive had intimidated, irritated, and frustrated most of his family, and pretty much any one he had ever dealt with. But despite his loner tendencies, he was not the least surprised to find himself becoming good friends with Aries. Aries really was a stand up guy, a genuine cut above the rest. He also happened to be the most honest person Rip had ever met.

Rip found himself consumed with guilt over many different reasons when it came to Aries. Seeing him now and knowing him, Rip realized Aries wasn't one of the stars who claimed fame was hard and ruined their job, all the while making fuck me eyes to the "hated" camera they constantly posed for.

Listening to this former gigolo speak of a love so true actually had Rip thinking of something other than the fame and riches he had previously been consumed with obtaining. Now Rip found himself actually day dreaming about that type of love, longing for a woman to come home to, to hold during the night, some one to just love. He thought about the day he discovered Aries and Mimi on that porch swing. That was the first day in his life that he realized sometimes true love could actually be seen. He wanted a beautiful curvy nymph to love him like Mimi had loved Aries. 

"No- like she STILL loves Aries." he corrected his thoughts, ready to fix the blunder than solve part of the equation of his bad luck.

He knew he had to make things right again, and he knew exactly where to start.

***

"ARIES STARK ARRESSTED AFTER POLICE MAKE A GRISLY DISCOVERY AT LANA LUTZ'S UPPER EAST SIDE APARTMENT"

Was the headline on the front cover of the 'Celebrity skinz' magazine that was face up on the floor and soaked in Mimi's tears.

Mimi lay face down on her bed, her whole body shaking as she sobbed. She had refused to even think of him, she had thought she was doing so well; living day to day without crying had been a major accomplishment for her. She had refused to let the fact that he would go to jail even enter her brain, so she was floored by the news that he was actually arrested. She felt so torn, half of her wanted to run to him, to hold him and tell him he would be alright, that she had his back and she would NEVER leave his side. But the other half felt like the biggest fool for even considering it. The man was engaged, his fiancée was pregnant and living in his house, Mimi had seen all of the pictures of them together on the latest issue of celebrity Skinz. She dropped the magazine, and ran to the bathroom, her nerves so worked up she found her self bent over the toilet.

How could she let him just rot alone in that jail cell? They had shared such an intimately beautiful and meaningful moment together. He had taught her of feelings she never thought she could feel, and he had opened her up to a whole new life. But how did she know if he was even rotting alone, he probably had his fiancée to keep him company. From the pictures of them together, Mimi could see she was a gorgeous woman, just who you would expect a famous celebrity to be engaged to. She was as tall as Aries and as thin as a reed, so different from Mimi. Even though Mimi had lost an unbelievable amount of weight she was still very curvy, she felt insecure and fat compared to the woman who could easily pass for a model. Mimi could not compare, she knew she wasn't glamorous; she didn't even take good pictures! 

What was she supposed to do? What if he really loved the woman? She couldn't bear to even think about it. What if he had gone back and taken one good look at her, and forgave her for what ever she had done that made him run away from her? What if he looked at Mimi with those new blue eyes in pity and says to her, "I'm sorry for hurting you Mimi, but I fell out of love with you."

***

He watched the beautiful girl walking up to her front door. Even though she was still a very stunning girl, she didn't look like the same girl he had watched with Aries that day on the porch swing. She had lost a lot of weight; dark circles haunted the eyes that once sparked with fiery-hot golden shards that lit her eyes up like the Sun. Eyes that could warm a man from the inside out while seducing him with her overwhelming love. A dark void had consumed that light, that contagious animalistic light that had illuminated her. Now it was gone and Rip knew she had him to thank for it. If only he had of waited and let Aries tell her the truth himself, he would have put it in a way that soothed her and she would be there by his side now.

"Miss Larue?" Rip asked softly. Mimi, jumped, startled, before turning to look at him. "Can we talk?" he asked. Of course she recognized the man that had shattered her entire world with the truth of her relationship, and the identity of the man she loved. She looked at him suspiciously, her eyes filled with hatred and resentment.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"First I want to apologize to you—" Rip began

"For telling the truth?" she cut him off.

"For telling it the way I did." He looked away from her penetrating eyes, "I should have let Aries tell you."

"Well, it's a damn good thing you did then, considering he never would have. If you'll excuse me—" she tried to step away but Rip laid a stilling hand on her arm.

"Please, just hear me out," he said, the desperation on his face forcing Mimi not to run off. 

"Go ahead."

"He was going to tell you, he had all intentions of telling you, that's why he took you away to tell you," He almost stuttered, "but I beat him to the punch."

"He had plenty of opportunities to tell me before that."

"Look, I'm not going to defend what he did, but I do know one thing."

"And what's that?" she asked mockingly

"I know he loves you."

"How do you know?" she asked, hoping he would tell her something she could believe in, she wanted to believe!

"All you have to do is look at him and you can see it," he said, and the simple statement did what yelling friends, depression and anxieties could not, it sunk in. Her tears started to flow instantly. "He's in jail Mimi." He used the name he heard Aries call her. "He really needs you right now." 

***

Aries sat at the small table in the visitation room, wishing no one had come to see him. It was too much of a hassle to get a visitor. Besides, right now, all he wanted was to be left alone, he could care less what the hell was going on with the case. As far as he was concerned, he was going to rot the rest of his life away behind bars. Life had been so ridiculous and unfortunate to this date; he expected nothing but a long thick string of unlucky events to continue to plague him.

The guard locked the shackles around his ankles, and cuffed his hands together then walked over to let his visitor in. Aries assumed it was either Rip or Detective Angus, since those were the only people he allowed on his visiting list. He didn't even look up as the guard opened the door, then Rip's familiar rushed steps pounded on the cheap tiled floor. 

"I had to let you know, I have a serious lead on Lana's chauffer," he said. He stood to the side of the table not sitting down. Aries looked up to see Rip grinning ear to ear. "I'll be back tomorrow. With good news I hope," he finished, and then stepped away from the table, forcing Aries to look over at him. 

Out of the corner of his eye, Aries caught a glimpse of an image so bright and unbelievable he hesitated before turning back to it. He exhaled as his eyes widened, and he tried to stand up but the shackles on his legs wouldn't allow it. He watched in disbelief and awe as she walked over, and sat in the chair across from him. Rip grinned like a happy cat, more than pleased with himself, and then quietly left the room.

Mimi sat across from Aries. Seeing him for the first time in so long had her wanting to burst out in tears, and hysterics, than rush over to him and hold him as close to her as she physically could. He looked like he had been to hell and back, and she just wanted to hold and comfort him. She wanted to tell him she had his back and she would never leave him again. But she would not walk over to him, no matter how badly she craved it. She inhaled deeply, controlling her emotions and trying to get a grip on herself. She wanted answers first.

He stared at her, wanting to break his chains, snatch her up, and kiss her until he felt better. Only she could make him feel better right now, but she was so damn ram headed. Her glowing skin was so warm and inviting, he could smell her from where he sat. He wanted to hold her more than anything, he wanted to strip her clothes off and touch every inch of her body in appreciation. He honestly didn't think she could become any more beautiful than she already was, but she had gone and defied the odds again.

"You look so different," she said, unaware of the slight frown on her face as she looked at him. It was the first time she had seen him in person with out his disguise. Sure she had seen pictures, but they hadn't done him justice. His hair had grown out, and she was tempted to run a hand through his inky locks, but it was his eyes that brought her the most grief and amazement all in one bewildering dose. They were the same eyes that expressed the way he felt about her. He could make her feel so special with just that look, they were exactly the same, but looked so different. 

"Do you recognize me at all?" he asked, praying she recognized something.

"A little," she answered, studying his face like one would observe a stranger for the first time, and he didn't like that feeling from her. She had never seen him without his thick beard, so she could only ever imagine what the rest of his face looked like. But she wouldn't tell him that she recognized his lips immediately. She had kissed those full lips so many times; she knew the exact outline, the shade, the feeling. Damn she missed how they felt, like plushy, lush clouds pressing against her lips. "You have hair, you said you were bald."

"You said you didn't care." he answered.

"It's your eyes that are throwing me off," she responded quickly, changing the subject. Then, looking into the crystal blue orbs, she frowned and said, "They're so light, it's strange how a few shades make such a difference." 

"You look as beautiful as ever." He changed the subject again, her inspection of him leaving a very unsettling feeling inside of him.

"Who is Jack Smith?" she cut to the chase.

"Just a common name," he answered honestly.

"You didn't kill him or anything did you?" she tried to joke to ease the thick tension, but it only made him feel worse.

"Do you think I killed Brad Lowell too?" he asked.

"I don't know who Brad Lowell is," she shrugged, "and even though you were on the run when you almost crashed into me, and you lied about your name, I don't see you as a murderer." "I'm sorry for lying to you," he said, filled with overwhelming relief—she knew him well enough to know he was not capable of murder.

"Are you engaged to that woman?"

"NO."

"Were you ever?"

"No."

"But the two of you were in a relationship together right?"

"For a short time."

"While we were together?"

"No, it was over between us long before I left, but she kept trying to make things work."

"Is she really pregnant?"

"Yes." He knew what was coming next.

"Is it your baby?"

"I don't know," he replied honestly. "She was sleeping with a few other men at the time."

"It's a possibility?"

"Yes," he answered, watching for the disapproval to appear on her face. 

"Are you in love with her?" she asked, her heart on her sleeve and tears ready to fall.

"No, I've never been in love with anyone but you." Aries looked straight into her eyes, those pale blue eyes shocking her, showing her his love for her regardless of their color. variation in shade could not change the look of love. One perfect clear eyed look to let her know that he was telling the truth. She felt so relieved that she fought to keep the tears at bay. 

"Why should I believe a word you say?" her stubborn streak reared its ugly head, yet again. 




Luck Ch. 07



"Because you know I'm telling you the truth, just like I know you still love me," he said, daring her to deny it.

"That's both presumptuous and arrogant," she snapped.

"But true." he said firmly.

"Maybe," she shrugged, not giving an inch.

"I'm going to have Rip take you to my beach house until I get out of here."

"No, I have to get back."

"There's no reason for you to go back-"

"I—"

"No, I don't want to hear it, your not leaving this state Nomi," he said, not leaving it up for discussion. "I'll send for who ever and whatever you need, but you are not leaving me, we have too much to discuss."

"Fine," she answered trying not to blush like a damn school girl.

***

"I need you to get me some type of proof that Lana is still alive, some one has to know something," Aries said. Rip smiled, happy to see Aries spirit was back.

"I'll get on it the second I leave here," Rip assured.

"Did you find anything from her chauffer?"

"Not yet, I'm still working on finding him."

"Check my chauffer too, she was screwing him since he first day I hired him, also check any new staff members she's hired since I left," he said. "Lana's always had a serous fetish for the hired help and talk to my new pool boy Julio, I think he knows something," Aries added and Rip smiled eagerly. 



Luck Ch. 08



Merritt Jacobi looked down at the latest edition of 'Celebrity skinz' with a heavy heart. The article had quoted parts of the autopsy report and went into great detail describing the murder of Brad Lowell. He was overwhelmed with worry and wondered how this had happened. His normal day to day life and everything he had done up until this point had been so far from the scandal that he may be facing.

He had worked very hard to build a good life for his family, and had raised his children with pride for themselves and their station in life. He adored his children; his two amazing daughters were the most beautiful and precious things in his life. He owned a gorgeous home, paid all of his bills on time, he had excellent credit and a new car—the only thing that ruined his perfect family was his wife. He had loved her so deeply for so long, but now that love was ruining him.

Candace Jacobi had never been satisfied with their upper middle class life. She hated their house because it was not a mansion. She hated their car because it was affordable. She even hated their children because they were not exactly like her, and had not been accepted into the elite private school that the richer mothers in their neighborhood sent their children to. But Candace had gone too far this time; she had cheated on him, and decided to run away with her rich new boy toy. So, Merritt sat back and watched her pack her bags, take all of her jewelry, and listen to their daughters crying their hearts out before leaving their lives like a stranger would. 

He refused to let it crush him; he had two precious daughters to take care of. So the day that a tall, thin, strikingly beautiful woman walked into his veterinary office, with her little tea cup poodle, he was smitten to say the least. Since that first erotically electric and spontaneously sexual meeting, it had been one year of full service sex and free vet care for the miserable little mutt. 

The new relationship had been going smoothly for the hard working veterinarian—until the night she had asked him for the animal euthanasia. He became immediately suspicious, asking her what she needed it for. Her answer to his question was to immediately drop to her knees, release his thick hungry cock, and suck him so deep into her throat he was sure the head of his dick was hitting her stomach. She sucked him off until his eyes did flips in his head, and his jellied knees dissolved. Needless to say his better judgment, which had been screaming for him to deny her, was silenced by his erotically induced oblivion. Before he knew it, he had given her a significant amount of the drug; more than enough to kill a man.

So months later when Merritt had first heard about the murder of Lana's fiancée, he was more shocked and hurt to find that she was engaged and had lied to him. It wasn't until later that he realized her fiancée had not just died, he had actually been murdered and even then the only thing that came to Merritt's mind was her betrayal and her lies. 

Merritt realized as he read the magazine that there was no more over looking this case, there was no more trying to block Lana and her treachery out of his mind. This article explained the Murder of Brad Lowell with hard core facts. He had been given a lethal dose of the same medicine that Merritt used to euthanize the animals at his veterinary office. He knew in the pit of his soul that Lana was more involved than she claimed to be and it broke his heart. Than to make the whole situation even worse, Lana had gone and disappeared with out a trace, leaving only an apartment full of blood and a million questions. He knew he ha to go to the police, he had to tell them the truth and help in anyway he could. He was riddled with guilt as he realized he may have unknowingly participated in a mans death and he also knew it was just a matter of time before they traced it back to him.

He could not afford that right now, he had too much at stake. He had his children to think of, who would take care of them if something happened to him? His wife had candidly informed him that she wanted nothing to do with her former life and that included the children. He had to do something; he was too honest to sit back with this information and not do anything.

"Why Lana?" he softly cried dropping the magazine to the floor and dropping his head into his hands. He had such high hopes for the two of them, she had been so perfect for him and he knew in his heart she would have been a wonderful mother to his daughters. What a fool he had been! Well that foolishness had put his beloved family in jeopardy.

***

It was strangely surreal to be living in Aries Stark's beach house. She felt slightly out of sorts and fully out of her element. Even though Aries had sent specific instructions for her to make her self completely at home, she could not help but feel awkward and uncomfortable. She was at some remote location far from any form of civilization, in a mansion that everyone kept calling a beach house.

She felt isolated and out of touch with the world after only just a few days. She knew it had a lot to do with the fact that she was far from home and away from anyone she knew. She was thankful that she was able to talk to her friends though, at this time when she was so worried and so alone it was good to hear there voices. She just wished that Aries was here and safe right now, she was so worried about him.

The house itself also played a factor, making her realize juts how little she knew about Aries Stark. The man she knew didn't seem to fit in this house; Jack Smith never struck her as luxurious or posh. The place was like some swanky museum that dripped with expensive dark, eerie art in various strange shades. The house itself, although electrifyingly intimidating, was structurally absolutely breathtaking. Very close attention had been paid in the design and structure of the house, and she recognized Aries style immediately. The main things she found herself doing over the last few days included exploring every inch of the gorgeous home, and being very careful not to touch anything. Every piece of furniture, from the huge master bed that was covered in grey and white linens to the crystal drinking glasses, looked fragile and irreplaceable not to mention worth more than anything she had ever owned in her entire life. She realized quickly that she may very well be intimidated by this much wealth and she questioned the insecurities in herself.

To make matters worse, the entire place was washed in grey, leaving no room for any other color in the whole apartment. She stood in the enormous living room looking out of the wall-sized window at the beautiful scenery out back. The beach was magnificent, all the flowers, the colors, the smells. The smells alone could intoxicate her like nothing else, except maybe Aries. The air smelled like fresh spring water with a blend of lilacs and roses, and other assorted flowers infused. The smell of the foliage as it warmed under the sun melted through her senses leaving her to coo and sigh. The pale turquoise water was clear and inviting, the ivory sand warm below her feet and between her toes. If only the rest of the cool, creepy mansion made her feel like this. 

Then as the final stunner, to her extreme torture and absolute displeasure, she was not allowed to go outside for very long and under no circumstances should she swim in the water. Rip had explained that even though they were over an hour away from civilization, she could still be spotted. At this point the paparazzi had no idea who she was, but a stranger making a ruckus in a secluded section would draw the attention of the media; and even though they could not recognize her yet, they would recognize Rip immediately. So instead she stood in the living room looking out of the huge window at the exotic and partially untouchable beach. The room she stood in such a vivid contrast to the colorful oasis outside. It was cold and expensive and dripping with luxury, from the monstrously oversized charcoal grey Italian leather furniture set to the huge deep grey and silvery shaded rug that covered over half of the deep granite shaded stone floor. 

Above all, it was the kitchen that gave her the oddest impression; there was something distant and vacant, but undeniably electric about the oversized room that looked like it belonged in a 5 star restaurant. All at once this kitchen gave her a feeling of a long lost home she never knew and a sickening feeling of dread and gloom. The actual kitchen was a modern marvel of the newest technology, every thing was state of the art, the silver double sided refrigerator was stocked full of all different types of food, the black and charcoal floor, the small silver circular table with two matching chairs, the black onyx inlayed marble coffee tables. The walls were the palest of grays meshed together to create a pattern she had never really seen before. She had never seen so many different spices in one place at the same time! Despite all of the expensive equipment and high priced decor, the kitchen screamed for some life. She fought herself to not go outside and pick some flowers and throw them all over the room.

This mansion was amazing despite the depressing decor, Aries had everything a person could ever want at his immediate disposal, he was a lucky man, why had he just left it all?

***

Rip smiled at the little old woman with the booming voice. She was a tiny little thing who stood sort of crooked; her frail body in complete opposition with her powerful, slightly accented, voice. The jet black hair that looked odd against the semi-translucent skin of the senior citizen, the fire red lipstick, and the retro fitted gown gave her the appearance of an old 1950's pin up girl, who had not been treated well by father time. She was direct and abrasive, but she was also informative, and Rip could not help but smile as he followed up the stairs behind her maintaining her ever so slow pace.

"Julio never paid his rent on time," She grumbled as she led Rip to apartment number three, "But he was quiet." She pursed her red painted lips.

"When did he leave?" He stood back as the sweet little old woman opened the apartment door.

"He left very early yesterday morning; he still owes me two hundred dollars. That's why he snuck away." She stood back allowing him to enter, "I already checked, he left nothing of value." She shook her head and snarled, her lips curling up enough for Rip to see the lipstick on her teeth. "Lock up when you're done." She turned her rickety little body around and slowly descended back down the stairs, her bones crackling with each step.

Rip walked into the small apartment, the door closing behind him and casting more dark shadows in the gloomy and dim room. He looked around the mess as he took out his hand held cassette recorder and his cell phone.

"Small studio apartment, the whole room is ransacked, papers and clothing strung all across the floor." He used the camera on his cell phone to take a picture of the room. Rip was careful when it came to evidence and investigation; he liked to document everything, just in case he was over loaded with information and possibly forget or over look something. He walked over to the little kitchen to the upper right corner of the room. "He hasn't been gone long." he said looking down at the plate of eggs, bacon and toast. "His breakfast is still slightly fresh." he walked over to the left corner of the room seeing the mattress on the floor. Rip looked down at clock laying face up on the floor than smiled to himself. In his haste Julio had unplugged the clock and the hands had stopped moving. "The unplugged alarm clock on the floor stopped at 1:30 in the morning." he took a picture of the clock. 

One would think that one would stick around when one was possibly involved in two separate, albeit somehow connected murders, but this particular pool boy had vanished with out a trace

Was he surprised? No, not really, he had almost expected as much. With all the press exposure Julio had to know that something was going to come back to him. Besides, Julio was no longer a legal citizen of America, so the option of leaving the country was the safest bet for a criminal looking to escape. Seems his green card had expired last year. Rip had come over with all intentions of exploiting this fact and using this information as leverage to get him to spill his guts about everything he knew about the case and little Miss missing Lana Lutz. Rip had been ready for a shake down and was disappointed that the man had just silently disappeared.

Rip sorted through various boxes of papers that Julio had left behind, intent on finding something. His diligence paid off when he found the pool boy's recent cell phone receipts. Rip carefully checked the receipts with the biggest smile, he knew that number. Lana had NEVER changed her cell phone number for fear she would miss that one call that would set her career back on track. So, by the list of in-coming calls, it seemed either the zombified ex-child star had become a member of the cell phone talking undead nation, or someone was using her phone. Either way, it was a lead; one Rip would investigate fully.

***

Mimi was worried about Lyndsy, so she was being careful not to tell her how depressed she was really getting or that overwhelming dread she was paralyzed with when ever she thought of Aries in prison for murder. Mimi spent most of her sleepless nights awake and talking to Lyndsy, who within the last weekend ended a relationship and was already talking about another man, who she swore was just a new friend. 

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how one looked at it, Lyndsy had finally severed the last tie with Trey—her on again and off again ex-fiancée. Their entire relation ship had been based on a pissing contest, since Trey was very old fashioned and hated Lyndsy's lucrative career. She was convinced his male chauvinist pride could not handle the fact that she was more successful in her career than him, and that she made a hell of a lot more money. So, when she walked in to find him fucking little Miss Susie Raye, she was more pissed that he would fuck that skanky slut on her expensive Egyptian cotton sheets than she was for him actually fucking her.

"He's your now, sweetie." Lyndsy had smiled smugly as she kicked them out of her posh apartment. She knew Susie well; she had a severe addiction to other women's men and little to no feeling for anyone that she could actually call her own. She liked the thrill of the chase, she liked being able to look at an unsuspecting woman whose man she was currently fucking with a big smug smile and a little fuck you wink. Now that Lyndsy had broken it off without the least bit of concern or hurt, Susie would quickly move on to the next unavailable man, leaving Trey to crawl back to Lyndsy. 

Well, Trey of all people should know that would never happen! Lyndsy, the polar opposite of Susie, liked men that could be only hers, men that showed loyalty and honesty. And there was no way in hell she would take back a man who she had caught cheating on her. NO, sinking below the level she wanted to be at was not in Lyndsy's genetic make-up; she was too smart to be stupid and way too fly to ever be depressed.

***

Hector Landon sat at his massive desk, puffing on a fat cigar. He had offered one to Rip, who declined. Strange, even when Rip was his top reporter before, Hector had never once offered him a cigar. Now that Hector had word that Rip was working with Aries Stark exclusively, Hector had all intentions of making Rip his new best friend. He had even offered him his own job back at 'Celebrity Skinz'. When Rip again declined the offer, Hector dangled a better position with a healthy pay raise before him. 

Rip was done with that type of reporting. Somewhere along the line, he had forgotten his love of journalism, and had begun to appreciate the monetary value much more. In the beginning of his career, when he had been fresh from college, looking to change the world one investigative report at a time, he could have cared less about what he was getting paid; all he cared about was the cause he had been investigating. Then the money had overtaken his morals, his ethics, and even his responsibilities. He had become the reported he had always hated. Well, that was then, and today was a new day for Rip, who intended to use his superior investigative skills for good. 

"I've gathered all the pictures my photographers took of Lana Lutz while Aries was considered dead." He tossed the thick envelope to Rip, "Mind telling me what this is about?"

"Possibly," Rip answered while looking through the pictures. "As soon as I find facts," he continued. Rip stood up, and readied himself to leave Hectors office, "thanks."

"Rip?" Hector stopped him.

"Yea?"

"Is Lana Lutz really dead?" he asked.

"I guess," Rip shrugged, "why do you ask?"

"I've had a lot of phone calls of people claiming they've seen her. "Hector said, he had been skeptical at first, but now there was just no denying it, either she was there or she had a twin.

"So? That happens with all celebrity cases." Rip shrugged.

"True, but never when all the calls are coming form the same state." Hector took a deep pull from his cigar. 

"Give me the address."

"Give me something to print," Hector negotiated. Rip needed that address, but he had to be careful with what he said to Hector; he knew his ex-boss well, anything you told him went in one ear than straight back out and into the next issue of 'Celebrity Skinz'.

"What if I told you that I am going to question Aries chauffer in possible connection to the murder of Brad Lowell?"

"Then I would tell you that Lana Lutz has been spotted in Mexico by several sources." Hector pulled out a sheet with a list of names and addresses from the callers and handed it to Rip, "I expect to be notified first if Lana turns up." He puffed his cigar again; "Alive or dead!" he barked with a grin before Rip left his office.

***

She still had no idea what was going on with Aries, Rip kept her informed of his every movement, and every new development in the case no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. She was very appreciative of Rip, especially after a long, dark lonely night in this stunningly beautiful yet eerily disturbing, beach house; it was good to wake up to Rip confidently informing her that he would get Aries out of jail soon.

Sleep was becoming as much of an anomaly as her life, she just could not stop her over-active, slightly paranoid, and definitely superstitious mind to slow down enough for her to relax, let alone sleep. Rip had managed to somehow notice her lack of sleep, and had brought her a special chamomile and lavender tea to help her relax. Sure, it relaxed her body and definitely made her sleepy, but she still could not slow the thought of Aries spending the rest of his life in prison for a murder she knew for fact he did not commit. Thank god for Rip's daily updates or she would be a complete wreck; emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Rip really was a nice guy, and his concern for her and Aries was as obvious as his guilt. She had tried, on more than one occasion, to let him know that he had not caused the rift between her and Aries, but he was convinced he had. Mimi decided not to push him about the subject simply for the fact that his guilt was driving him to find the truth underneath the murders, and assist in helping Aries be cleared of these crimes. He came to see her everyday, regardless of the fact that he had to travel by Aries personal plane. He even started bringing her food, since he had noticed she wasn't eating very much. 

What she didn't know was that Rip was keeping in touch daily with Lyndsy, and after he had informed her that Mimi still wasn't eating well, Lyndsy advised him as to her favorite foods and what to bring her to try to spark her appetite. Rip had developed a rather intimate phone relationship with Lyndsy. Lyndsy herself had made the initial contact with Rip, knowing that he was the only one who visited her at the beach house. She was overly worried, since she was not there with Mimi and unable to look after her. So, she made Rip her new personal friend, getting all the information that she knew Mimi was withholding or just flat out would not tell her. That way, Lyndsy could instruct Rip as to what to do in situations like this.




Luck Ch. 08



Mimi thought she was doing the right thing by not burdening Lyndsy with anymore of her problems, especially now that she and Trey were separated. Mimi was trying to be a good friend and there for Lyndsy; she even carefully re-routed their conversations to how Lyndsy was doing. What Mimi didn't realize was that she was making things harder for Lyndsy by not telling her how stressed out she really was. Lyndsy could care less about Trey anymore, that was a dead issue, but Mimi was like a sister to her and she needed to make sure she was alright. Besides, Rip was keeping her mind from even wandering back to Trey. Rip was really intelligent and entertaining. He and Lyndsy seemed to be interested in all of the same things. He was also being very helpful keeping track of Mimi. She was thankful and she was interested. Maybe nothing would come of it or maybe it was a quick rebound fling, so who cared, he made her laugh.

***

Angus and Cruz sat across from the veterinarian, he was a humble and honest man who had a lapse in good judgment and made a stupid mistake. Angus took one look at the average looking middle class man whose wife had just left him for a man with more money, and knew that he had fallen victim to the glamorous and larger than life Lana Lutz.

"I am so sorry," Merritt cried honest tears. "I had no idea!" 

"It's not your fault." Cruz tried to verbally comfort the very upset man.

"I am responsible for his death!" he sobbed, a rather large string hanging from his nose. Cruz grabbed a handful of tissues and handed them to him. "She was just so sexy and s-so NAKED!" he cried harder, blowing his nose in the handful of Kleenex.

"You said you had no idea what she was doing—" Angus started.

"No, no clue," Merritt interjected with a sniffle.

"So you have nothing to feel guilty about. Whoever killed him would have killed him with anything they could get there hands on."

"With or without your unknowing assistance," Cruz backed Angus up, nodding his head in agreement.

"Besides, today you are helping to set an innocent man free." Angus finished.

"I am?"

"Yes, there is a man sitting in jail right now, he is a possible suspect in the murder of Brad Lowell and being questioned for the disappearance of Lana Lutz."

***

"I have something for you." Rip handed Angus the cell phone list from Julio's apartment and Mexican address that Hector Landon had given him.

"Very interesting," Angus said, reviewing the information before him.

"I thought so too," Rip grinned ear to ear, "that's why I'm going to Mexico."

"Keep me informed of anything you find," Angus said.

"You know I will." Rip tipped his hat to Angus, "You'll be hearing from me very soon."



Luck Ch. 09



Rip was going to see Aries at least 3 times a week. They were always unscheduled visits and he always had new developments in the case to share. After he was finished seeing him he always took the long trip to see Mimi and check up on her and give her all the new information he had. Only today was different, Rip was not here yet. He had called Mimi very early this morning to let her know He had received some information of several witnesses spotting a woman who matched Lana's description and he was taking a little unscheduled trip to Mexico. He also told her that Detective Angus had called him and asked him to come to the station immediately so after he talked to him he was going to see Aries and than he would be there to see her. 

Mimi had been sitting on the couch waiting for hours, her nerves getting worse with each tick of the clock. Her stomach felt like it was filled with tiny break dancing demons wearing spiked shoes and she was not sure if she wanted to pace the floor or puke. What could be taking him so long? Something was going on; he could feel it in her soul. Rip should have been here hours ago! A million and one what ifs were forcing their way through her chaotic thoughts. 

What if today was the day they decided to never release him from prison, Rip said Angus had told him to come to the station immediately. What if Aries was hurt? She couldn't bare the thought! She got off the couch and walked to the back porch, letting the sweet floral air fill her lungs. She wanted to strip and start swimming to relieve her anxieties and frustrations. She just wanted to swim and keep swimming until Rip finally showed up and told her that everything was alright, that Aries was fine healthy and hopefully soon to be released. Instead, she stomped her foot and stalked back into the living room only to sit back down on the couch and wait.

Mimi was riddled with anxieties sitting on the massive couch, impatiently waiting for Rip to contact her and she wasn't sure how much more she could take... 

*** SAME EXACT MOMENT IN TIME- FAR, FAR AWAY...

"So what did the detective say?" Lana purred the question in Julio's ear, massaging his thin cock so good, he could barley open his eyes.

They were in a tiny cheap motel in Mexico with a thick stinky multi colored comforted and mismatched curtains that housed a family of over active bed bugs. The rug looked like it had been washed in vomit and piss, giving a repugnant and stale aroma to the already festering room. cigarette burns were the only common theme in the rooms various objects and Lana wondered how the hell it hadn't burned to the ground yet. Lana hated poverty more than anything, but she was trying to get used to this life. Only in the scummy little roach infested hotels did the average person go unnoticed and that was exactly what she intended to do.

"He wants me to go to the station and talk." Julio said

"You know what Julio," she went up on her elbow, "Of all the people I have ever known I would honestly have to say I trust you the most." she wanted to smile genuinely, but it was still false.

"You should trust me." he smiled, his eyes completely closed as her masterful hand jerked a mind numbing spell through his swelling dick.

"I do trust you," she kissed his lips, slipping her hand under the pillow under his head pulling him closer to her for a deep kiss. She kissed him silly than she kissed hi until he went stupid, than she pulled back, "I trust you to rat me out once they get their hands on you and your facing life in prison."

"I would never do that, you know I love you." Lana wanted to believe him, she wished she could have just been a normal minded person with normal expectations, but she wasn't. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if Julio really knew her and could see into her heart, that he would hate her as much as she was beginning to hate herself. She wished she could accept his love and lead a normal everyday life, but that was never going to happen now.

"Love is as good as luck when it comes to fighting for your freedom, doll face. It's useless and over rated." she kissed his lips again, 

"No, love is not useless, you've just had bad luck with love that's all, it will be different now." he smiled ear to ear, "I'll make sure of it."

"I'm sorry Julio, but I can not take that chance." she said sliding her mini pearl handled gun from under the pillow, she pointed it to his head and pulled the trigger so fast, he didn't even have time to react. "I really am sorry." she said jumping off the bed, than grabbing her little purse. She took out the soda bottle full of gasoline and dumped it on his bleeding body, than she lit a match and dropped it, running out of the motel as fast as she could. It was bad enough she had to see him with a hole in his head, she could not stay and watch him burn.

***

Mimi was a nervous wreck and at her wits end! Every noise she heard she jumped up to see if it was Rip. This waiting was killing her! She was fidgeting, pacing back and forth, standing up, sitting back down and still waiting for any word from Rip. It was getting late and Mimi was not sure how much more she could take before she popped and lost her top. She felt like she had been waiting and sitting here for years as the hours passed by torturously slow. She had to know Aries was alright!

So when she finally heard the front door open, her heart fluttered in her chest as she jumped up off the couch. 

"Finally Rip! What the hell is going on?" she cried in frustration, walking out of the living room and going to the front door. Mimi instantly froze in her tracks, her heart dove straight to her stomach, refusing to resurface.

Aries stood in front of the main door, his larger than life presence dominating the room. She gasped as his intense pale blue eyes locked on her and he slowly took a step forward. Seeing her had once again knocked his socks off and left him speechless and stunned by that over powering love he felt for her. She took a step back, suddenly over whelmed by his presence and the reality of this surprise situation.

What was wrong with her? This was still Jack even though his real name was Aries, so why did she suddenly feel so nervous and unsure? She had been praying for this moment since the minute she found out he had been incarcerated. Now that the moment was here, she was a little scared and she didn't understand why.

Aries was going to introduce himself to her the right way, the way he should have done it the second he realized he was head over heals for her. He wished with everything inside of him that he had of done it right the first time, he knew he should have just been honest and faced the consequences. He had even stopped over at Rip's place to clean himself up; to shave and to change into the new outfit Rip had brought from one of Aries' main mansion. It wasn't the best outfit to represent him in, he knew Mimi had been used to seeing Jack in casual clothes, and feared this pricey outfit, which had sat never worn in his closet with the price tags still intact, would be strange for her to see. 

"My name is Aries Stark," he said as he took her hand and kissed the top of it, "I used to be an actor, but I quit. Right now I own a restaurant, a hell of a lot of property and other various successful businesses that are either 100% mine or have invested in financially. I am also very, very wealthy." He took another step forward, and this time she did not step back.

"I noticed." 

"I am also the man that almost crashed his car into you while I was in disguise and on the run, I also got you fired from your lame ass job, I almost burned down our apartment building when I fell asleep with food in the oven, I also yelled at you, took your virginity and lied about who I really am." He slid his hands to her face, "I'm sorry for lying to you, Nomi." She felt her heart speed up and her hands started to shake. "I need you to understand why I did it," he said, bending his head to kiss her. Mimi jumped back like she had been burned. It was not that she didn't want to kiss him, she actually wanted him to kiss her more than anything, but it was just all too perfect all to fast and her superstitious mind rebelled against the truth.

"I'm sorry, it's just, it's too quick, I know your name now and I think I recognize parts of you, but I don't really recognize you, yet." She looked at his handsome face; he was the perfect specimen of a man. He was so undeniably sexy; she could see why he had taken Hollywood by storm. 

"Alright," he agreed reluctantly, he wanted to hash it all out and get it out in the open right now. He was ready to put this shit behind him and start his new life with her. He decided he would not push it right now, but he had all intentions of finishing this conversation with her—and he WAS going to kiss her. 

"So this is your house?" she asked and walked back into the living room.

"Yes," he simply answered, following behind her than sitting down on the large deep gray sofa. 

"You designed this house didn't you; I mean the structure of it," Mimi said for a lack of better words.

"How did you know?" he asked, almost in awe that she could know that. No one knew about his secret hobby, hell he had gone incognito when he had helped the construction crew build it from the ground up. They had no idea that Mr. Oscar Doe, the man whose house they were helping to build was none other then Aries Stark.

"Your sketches," she remembered the time he had shown her his designs, all the buildings, the houses. He was really very talented. "This place reminds me of one of them," she said, impressing him to no end. 

"This was the first house I built," he was surprised that she remembered the sketches, they were terrible, messy sketches, but she had remembered them enough to recognize them in this house. "I wanted you to see it, so I was going to build a duplicate for you," he said.

"For me?" she asked.

"Yes." 

"You're really talented," she said.

"Thank you." Appreciation for doing something you love brought warm fuzzy feelings, and he felt like a little kid again, smiling ear to ear as he looked across at her.

"But why so much grey?" she asked, walking over to where he sat.

"It suited my mood at the time." He watched her sit down on the far end of the long sofa, facing him. 

"You never seemed like a gray person to me," she said absently looking into his eyes.

"No?" he questioned. It was funny, he always considered him self more grey.

"No you have too much life in you for that."

"It was another life," he shrugged.

"Yet here we are in your other life right now," she said sliding a little closer to him, caught up in those blue eyes. "It's strange." 

"Is it?" he watched her get closer, afraid to make a move and scare her back off.

"Yea, you look so different, you even dress different." She looked at the impeccably dressed man before her, he looked down at himself, "Definitely not the stripes and camouflage type any more." She dazzled him with her smile as she thought back to the day he came out of his apartment, ready to go to the restaurant in baggy camouflage shorts and a navy shirt with red and orange stripes across the chest.

"I'm sure I can find some camouflage and stripes in my closet," he grinned.

"You look so different with out the beard," she looked at him like a little girl looking at a huge piece of candy she couldn't wait to take a lick of. 

"I can grow it back," he said.

"I always wondered what you would look like with out It." She unknowingly scooted towards him a bit.

"So, which look do you like better, Jack or Aries?" he asked. It was such a surreal situation, he had been so in awe of her and the fact that she loved him regardless of his looks, with a bald head and a big grizzly beard, she was unabashedly in love. Now he wanted her to like what he looked like naturally more. He had gotten so fucking sick of women telling him how handsome or sexy he was; he couldn't tolerate it at all. Now all he wanted was to hear her say he was handsome as Aries Stark.

"Both." She shrugged, it never made a difference to her what he looked like, she only cared about how he treated her, and how he could make her feel. 

He could barley tolerate just sitting next to her, his better instinct was forcing his natural instinct from ravishing her right here, right now. He had to do something, there was no way in hell he could sit in this house and take it slow. He had to do something to take his mind off slowly stripping her naked and sucking and kissing every inch of her body.

"I'm starving, lets go cook," he said standing up; adjusting himself so she didn't see his massive hard on. She noticed it, how could she not even when she tried to immediately turn her head away, she still felt the effects in that special little spot that was now burning between her legs

"No, I don't feel like cooking," she said. He looked at her like she had grown two extra heads.

"Really?" he questioned in disbelief, when did Nomi Larue not feel like cooking? Then, not wanting to push it just yet and his belly growling, he said, "Then let's go out to eat."

***

Rip took a picture of the still smoking remains of the hotel. The air was sooty and the slight breeze carried particles of ash down the street. He took his mini cassette recorder out of his pocket and began to speak

"This is the hotel that Julio was last seen at. He used his personal credit card to pay for the room. The woman on night shift identified the picture of Julio, specifically remembering his pale hazel eyes." he smiled as he left out the fact that the receptionist went on and on about how cute Julio was and how could a woman forget a face like that. He walked around the side and took another picture. "The woman also said that Julio had checked in alone, but she remembered seeing a tall thin American woman running from the hotel 15 minutes before the fire alarms went off." he said into the recorder. 

***

"What are you doing?" She asked in horror as she watched him put on the sunglasses and the Yankees cap. Looking so much like he did the day she met him, the only thing missing was the beard.

"I have to do this or I may be recognized," he said, applying liquid adhesive to the fake beard he used to wear.

"Are you serious?" she questioned as she checked her hair in the mirror. Even though his bathroom had two large mirrors, he found it just adorable that she always shared his. She had no idea that some of the girls he had dated had demanded their own bathrooms, damn the horror in having to share a mirror. He had preferred it that way before, sharing a bathroom was just too much for him, hence all the extra bathrooms in all of his places. Now, he was sure he would object if Mimi did try to get ready in another room. 

"Unfortunately," he answered.

"That sucks." she took a good look at him, what kind of life is it to have to constantly have to hide your identity? "Here, let me help you." She smiled taking the beard he had just finished applying the adhesive to and helping to attach it to his face. 

"Thanks." he grinned. No woman had ever helped him with his disguises', if anything, most of them were angry that he was hiding the fact he was Aries Stark. Most of them would have proffered the paparazzi and a chance to be seen with Aries. 

Once she finished she took a good look at him, "Your you again." She smiled then quickly frowned remembering her mix up, "I mean your Jack again." 

***

He had hand picked the location for his beach house because of the privacy factor; the closest habitat was a tiny little sleepy town. The entire town had one gas station, and one drive-in that didn't feature any film made after 1960. It had only one little mom and pop restaurant that featured a menu straight from the sea. He had been here once before, a long time ago, and since no one had recognized him then, he felt reasonably safe in bringing Mimi here now.

They sat at a little sea blue table with orange and yellow fish painted across the top, and sea plants painted at the base and wrapping up the stand. The table benches looked like little old fashioned boats with thick comfy seats. There was even a live goldfish swimming inside of a treasure chest shaped fish bowl. He was a little surprised to see so many people dining. It was such a small town; he didn't even think that many people lived here. But lucky him, he would come on a night when some type of town festivities were going on.

"They make good gumbo," Aries said, taking a drink of his soda.

"Do they?" she asked.

"Not as good as yours, but its good," he grinned.

She sat there staring at him; he was Jack Smith again, and she felt her emotions going up to the tip top of the roller coaster before it began to plummet back down. He looked exactly as he did the first day she met him, the beard, the dark eyes, only this time he had hair.

"Your like Jack with hair," she said in amazement, and he felt a tug at his heart as he realized she had missed him; he could see it in her eyes and written boldly all over her face. But he could also see the confusion; he knew it had to be hard to be looking at the man she thought she knew after looking at who the man really was. It was a strange situation indeed.

"I want to take you to my main house, I designed that one too, but I didn't help to build it." He wanted to share everything that had meant something to him with her. 

"Your main house? How many houses do you have?" she asked.

"A few," he answered vaguely.

"Why so many?"

"I never really felt comfortable in any of them," he shrugged, thinking back to his lonely, albeit rich, life. "So every where I went, I tried it all over again." Now it didn't matter where he was or where he lived, so long as he had Mimi with him. Just the thought of her walking into his old, cold, spooky main mansion erased all of the unsettling feelings he felt about the place. He could actually move back in now, and not feel discontent or have heavy anxieties. 

This girl, just by being here, had managed to help erase all of the ill and gloomy feelings he had of his previous life, he wanted to embrace his life like he was never able to before. He wanted to share his life with Nomi Larue until his dying day, and he didn't care where he was; so long as he was with her.

"Are they all flooded in grey?" she asked jokingly with a grin.

"Probably," he answered with a chuckle.

"Don't get me wrong, I love the color, but it is a very cold color and can seriously dampen the mood." 

"Yea, but it doesn't seem so gray anymore—"

"Oh my god!" the woman who had suddenly appeared next to them squealed, "oh my god, your—your—"

"It's Aries Stark!" another woman at the table next to them yelled, after the first woman drew her attention to Aries' face. The still squealing woman next to them was bouncing up and down and Aries could see the trouble brewing

"Sorry, you have the wrong guy." he tried not to look at her directly.

"No, you're him, YOUR ARIES!" she yelled.

"It is him!" said the man who had been sitting to their far right, "I knew he looked familiar!"

"NO, your mistaken—" he started to say right before the woman yanked his hat off. That was right about the time pandemonium struck.

It was a mad dash for the door as the restaurant patrons realized they were dining among the highly controversial, straight back from the grave, the one and only mega-super star ARIES STARK!

Mimi looked stunned at the gathering crowd as Aries grabbed her hand, and pulled her out of the restaurant with him. As they chased them out of the door, Aries, used to this type of thing, picked Mimi up and sprinted to his car.

"Stop him, it's Aries Stark!" the woman yelled to the townspeople standing outside on the street. With in moments at least five over zealous fans had bombarded the car, and Aries watched as others around realized what was going on and who was in their midst. Aries put the car in drive and got the hell out of there as quickly as he possibly could.




Luck Ch. 09



"What the hell was that?" Mimi asked, her eyes widened as she looked at him, the adrenaline still rushing through her.

"That was crowd recognition," he said looking in his rear view to see the gathering crowd disappear. 

"Holy shit, does that happen often?" she was thrown off by his relaxed demeanor and realized he must be used to running away from a mob of fans. It had to really suck to have to get used to this type of life.

"All the time," he shook his head, "except when I was living next door to you." He smiled, "Be thankful they haven't jumped in their cars and followed us."

"They do that too?!" she exclaimed incredulously.

"All the time." He realized that she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Would she be able to handle it? There was no way it would slow down any time soon.

Mimi looked at him dumbfounded for a second as the realization of his situation dawned on her. She understood why he had left this life in the fist place. This was insanity, no one could live like this, and this was over exposure at its finest. She had but a tiny taste of what he went through on a daily basis and she hated it! Running for her life from a growing crowd left her feeling both vulnerable and over whelmed. 

She was looking at him with new eyes and total understanding, wondering how he had been able to tolerate it thus far. Sure he had a very successful career, one that most dreamed of, he had unlimited fame and riches, but at what price? She sat there looking at him wondering how someone could be so lucky and unlucky all at the same time.

***

At this point there were no rules, no laws and no authority other than her own. Lana was ready to do whatever she needed to do to guarantee her survival and her freedom. She stood in front of the mirror at yet another scummy little hotel, clutching a handful of her hair. Her hair had always been her pride and glory, but now not being captured was paramount. 

She fought the tears that threatened to spill as she began to cut her hair, the long pale locks falling into the dirty sink. She took a good look at herself, because after today, she would make it a point to never look at herself again. She raised her chin than started to apply the black hair dye. While she was waiting, she applied the deep bronze self tanner all over her entire body and put the dark contacts in her eyes. She was going to turn herself into an authentic citizen of Mexico, she was going to look the part and act the role. She was thankful she had done a low budget film in Mexico a few years ago and had taken the time to learn the language. It would be beneficial now that she refused to speak any English. She had also stolen the identity of a dead Mexican woman to cement her new identity. 

She took one last good look at herself, wanting to break down in tears at the horrific transformation. She took a deep steadying breath than grabbed her duffle bag and left the stinky and dirty pay by the hour hotel room. 

***

Rip dropped the autopsy report on Detective Angus's desk

"After extensive testing it was determined that the body that was found almost burned beyond recognition in the Mexican hotel was none other than Julio."

"Interesting." Angus said picking up the file

"But the victim did not die of smoke inhalation or any other form of fire related tragedy." Rip said as Angus looked at the pictures of what was left of Julio. "They found a bullet in his temple and he was smiling at the time of his death."

"He was executed." Angus went back to the report.

"Yes and the receptionist on duty that night distinctly remember a very tall, very slim American woman running from the scene of the crime."

"Excellent work Rip."

"I'll be in touch." Rip nodded than left the office, he still had a certain chauffer he needed to speak to.



Luck Ch. 10



Devlin Sinclair was a driving force with enough determination to dig to the other side of the earth with his bare hands if he deemed it necessary. He was the very reason that Detective Angus and Rip Howard were currently breathing a sigh of relief. 

There was no doubt in either men's minds that Nomi Larue's rejection of Aries, followed by the quick arrest for the bodiless murder of Lana Lutz, had taken a nasty toll on him and had inevitably taken him to an all time low. They had watched the strong charismatic man withdraw and become almost non-responsive. Then they watched in horror as he had silently settled for his idiotic court appointed attorney. 

Rip had done his own little investigation on the negligent lawyer, quickly learning that the man had lost more cases than he had won. Rip tried to give the man the benefit of the doubt, and was going to help him, but after trying to contact him for over a week Rip finally gave up. The attorney spent more time at lunch and away from his desk, than he did working or performing the proper investigations for his client. Rip had pleaded with Aries to obtain his own attorney; he knew it wouldn't be hard with Aries' fortune and fame to find the perfect defense attorney who would love to take this case. 

Aries just did not seem to care at that point; that was why Rip had decided to take matters into his own hands and plan a little reunion for them. He knew the moment Aries saw Mimi, he would change his mind. Just as Rip had predicted, by the time Mimi had left their first visit to the jail, Aries was already on the phone with the one man from his past that he actually considered a friend.

Devlin Sinclair was not the rich snobby type, he didn't give a damn about politics, and he lived by his instincts—basically, he did what he wanted, when ever he wanted, and to hell with anyone who dared to disagree. He didn't follow the trends, and he didn't embrace the fame that the extreme wealth had brought to him and his family. 

"You should have called me immediately," Devlin said, "but don't worry, I'll take care of It." That was all the assurance Aries needed. Devlin's reputation was infamous, for he never lost a case.

"I have all faith in you." Aries smirked with his growing confidence.

"As you should." Devlin said confidently.

Devlin Sinclair was a born and bred Louisianan as was every other member of his very rich proud family. He was also a well connected and influential defense attorney. He was born with an over active aggression gene with a win at all costs attitude and a temper that would spite the devil. Even though he was not above being devious or manipulative, with his no holds barred tactics, he was very honorable and a man's man in every sense of the word. He fought hard for what he believed in. He was an intimidating opponent and one of the best defense attorneys around; and Aries was relieved to have his friend represent him.

The six foot three, dark haired man in the expensive suit walked into the district attorneys office. Everyone in the room looked at him with his striking presence; as usual he had the direct attention of all of the females in the room as they fawned over the handsome man. The secretary had informed him that Kenneth was in a meeting right now, and offered him a little fun to pass the time since she was getting ready to take her lunch break. Normally Devlin would not deny such a curvy little beauty offering free sex, but he didn't like to play around while working. Instead, he walked past her and barged into Kenneth's office; secretly grinning to himself at the look of shock on the district attorneys face.

Kenneth Blioki was shook the second Devlin Sinclair walked into his office.

"You're releasing my client," Devlin put the paper work on the desk with enough force to make Kenneth jump. 

"Your client?" he asked, hoping he was mistaken; he did not like the idea of going against Devlin Sinclair in a courtroom. 

"Aries Stark." This time he did grin smugly as Kenneth inhaled deeply. "That's right and we both know you're holding him on circumstantial evidence." He pointed his large finger down at the paper. "Your signature. Now," he demanded and without another thought, Kenneth signed it. 

Kenneth had been basking in the fame of this case, he loved the attention and he knew if he was able to convict Aries Stark, he would become legendary. Now Sinclair had just pulled the thunder from under him. He had no choice but to play by the rules and watch his ass.

***

Immediately after Aries' release, Devlin had met with detective Angus and Rip Howard, and knew instantly that these two men would be very beneficial to the case. Most importantly they both believed in Aries' innocence and had been diligently working hard to gather all the evidence that would eventually clear him, the very evidence that his court appointed attorney had been to lazy too find. 

Rip had no intentions of giving up, he had worked too hard, and had become too good a friend to Aries to stop now, so he informed Devlin that he would be helping in any way he could and would hand all evidence over to him and Detective Angus the second he found it. He had also wished Devlin luck before he left Detective Angus' office. Devlin grinned slightly, but did not respond, he didn't believe in luck; he believed in himself.

***

After their disastrous meal at the little gumbo restaurant and their run in with a star struck mini-mob, they drove the long ride home talking of nothing important; Mimi was still in a little shock after the night's festivities. 

Aries had noticed the way she had looked at him tonight after seeing him back in Jack's disguise, and he longed for her love again. He also saw the confusion on her face. Even though he would love nothing more than to leave the disguise on and love her all night long like Jack had been allowed to, he knew it was best and less confusing for them both if he was himself—with his own face.

Aries looked at himself in the mirror, taking another deep breath, he needed her and he knew she needed him to. In all honesty, he was not sure how much longer he could hold out and try to be reasonable about this. It had been an unreasonably tense night and he really needed to bury himself deep inside of her until he regained his mental and physical strength.

He walked back down stairs, finding her in the guest room after a quick search. He stood in the door way, watching her as she slipped a tiny lemon colored tank top on. She had already changed into the matching bed shorts, and he cursed himself for not being down here quick enough to watch her change into them. He watched her close-up her suitcase, then lift it off the bed. He walked over to her and she looked up at him seeing his clear undisguised face. She smiled a bit as he took her suitcase from her and set it in the closet.

He really was so damn handsome! She could not help but secretly grin as the thrill of it all stirred up her spine.

"That closet is bigger then my old apartment," she joked. He grinned and walked up to her, taking a good look at her curves as he did; she instinctively stepped back. 

"Nomi—"

"What's going to happen to you?" she cut him off, knowing what he was going to say with out even saying it, and she needed to change the subject. "You won't go back to jail will you?"

"I doubt it," he said. "I have an excellent lawyer." 

"Are you worried?"

"I'm more worried about you and me." He stepped closer and she stepped back again. "Stop doing that," he snapped, his blue eyes sparking.

"Doing what?"

"Moving away from me every time I come near you." He backed her up until the bed touched the back of her legs, and she couldn't go any further.

"It's too soon, I j-just, I can't n-not yet." She tried to move to the side and he grabbed her arms holding her tightly, instantly immobilizing her. 

"Why?!" he demanded, and she turned her head from his penetrating eyes. "Why?" he roared, grabbing her face to look at him.

"Because I don't know you!" she yelled, and cried all at once, tears springing from her eyes.

"You do know me!"

"No—"

"You know me better than anyone has ever known me!" he growled, his eyes glowing, his face turning red.

"Everything is so different!"

"But I'm not. I am me and I feel exactly the same way." He grabbed her face, "I need you to feel the same for me as you did when I was Jack, I need you to love me as much as you loved Jack," he said shaking his head. "I cant do this without you, now that I know what this feels like, I cant fight with out it," he finished more softly.

She felt horrible and guilty and angry and confused and frustrated and insensitive and overly sensitive and above all aroused all at one mind boggling moment. He was being tried for murder, and she wasn't even offering much support she was so wrapped up in the fact that he lied and who he really was and what it meant that she could no longer see the bigger picture. 

"You could have trusted me enough to tell me who you really were," she said, the tears just openly falling from her eyes as she looked at him.

"I know, baby" he said. "If I could do it all over again that would be the first thing I would do." He slid his hands down to her neck as he bent his head, his lips barely touching hers, and she held her arms out to hold him back.

"Wait."

"No, I'm not waiting anymore," he said before clutching the back of her hair and pulling her head back enough for him to over power her mouth with a kiss just demanding enough to make her lose all coherent thought; all the anger, the frustration and confusion she felt were replaced by her arousal; and it grew as her clarity deepened. Right now she knew she was supposed to be right here with him. 

He was mastering her as usual, making her feel those feelings that dazzled her, stunned her and left her panties soaked, her lungs breathless and her head spinning. After he had left she had tried to convince herself that she had imagined such bliss, just to be able to cope without him a little better. He was disproving her irrational theory with the most intense pleasure. He had pulled her back into his own personal orbit and she was caught up in the rapture of it, her head swirled and twirled, his skilled mouth sending mini-currents of electricity through her jaw. Her mouth felt like it was full of the most blissfully snapping, erotically crackling candy pop rocks. Just when she was positive she would swoon in ecstasy he ripped his mouth from hers, leaving her to gasp for air. 

"I need to see you." He ran his hands over her large breasts, and then down to her full hips, reaching behind her to grab a handful of her behind, "right now." He slid her shirt up her waist and over her breasts, "raise your arms." When she did, he pulled it off and tossed it, not knowing where. He grabbed the waist of her shorts and slid it down kissing her belly, then the expanse of her hips as he bared them, pulling the thin material down to her ankles. He slid his hands back up her legs, kissing her thighs, leaving little marks with his mouth as he went back up to her hips, then her belly. 

He stood in front of her bending to kiss her lips, letting his trail down her neck as he slid his hands into the cups of her bra, his fingers sliding over her hardened nipples; she gasped into his mouth as he pulled back far enough to grab the front of her bra, then with one strong yank he tore it open. He pulled the bra from her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor with her other discarded clothes. Aries stood back and looked at her with admiration, pride and a deep possession that he was embracing and allowing to overpower him. She was his and there was nothing else to it, there was no more denying it and he didn't want to deny himself any longer. 

"Damn," he said in appreciation, wishing he had more hands to touch her with. He ran his hands up to her breasts, cupping them as he bent his head to take a nipple into his mouth. She gasped at the feeling and he groaned at the sound, sucking a little harder, his free hand slid into her panties, slipping his finger between her dewy lips, both of them groaning at the same time. His free arm went behind her back to support her as he worked her body to frenzy. She was arched against his arm, on her tip toes, the sensation ripping through her; she thought her vagina would pop as his finger circled slowly inside of her, massaging that maddening little spot. 

"Aries," she gasped, and he ripped his mouth from her nipple and pulled back abruptly. She had never said his name before, it was the most erotic and wonderful feelings he had ever experienced, he felt almost light headed and giddy like a school boy at Christmas.

"Say it again."

"What?" her voice breathless. 

"My name. Say it again," he groaned in anticipation of her sweet voice saying his name. 

"Aries," she breathed his name so seductively he thought for sure this was the moment his cock would explode. "Aries Stark."

"I have to be inside of you," he said almost in a panic, he slipped his fingers out of her convulsing sex, and picked her up, tossed her on the bed, jumped immediately on top of her, and tugged her panties down her legs. Then, stepping off the bed as he pulled them from her body, and blindly tossed them to the floor, he spread her legs looking down at her smooth caramel skin, her sex beckoning him, begging him to take a taste. He needed to be inside her so bad he feared his cock would implode, but he feared if he did not take a tiny taste he would lose what was left of his mind. 

His large hands clutching her inner thighs, he lowered his head to her sex, inhaling her essence, letting the aroma flow through his body like warm molasses. He bent his head sucking her lips into his mouth. She went up on her hands, her back arching as he sucked her flesh. She grabbed his head, lacing her fingers into his raven waves. He grabbed her hips, pulling her to the edge of the bed as he went down to his knees on the floor, his face never leaving her sex, but forcing her on her back as he roughly pulled her to the edge. 

He spread her legs wider, his finger trailing down to where his mouth now feasted; he spread her lips wider, then took her flesh deeper into his mouth. She cried out trying to pull away, the feeling was so intense; it had her legs shaking and the muscles in her thighs jerking. That's when she felt it, so powerful, so overwhelming it washed through her body like a burning hot lava tidal wave, forcing her body to tighten as it scorched through her. She screamed her orgasm as spasms over-powered her body, and her scream echoed through the enormous room. 

He groaned and moaned as he sucked every last drop from her sensitive sex, sliding his finger inside of her and sucking the juices from her like a bear with a honey jar. When he was done he slid up her body, kissing her lips as he undid his belt, yanking open his pants; sending the button flying and breaking the zipper, She could taste her sex in his kiss, as she felt the head of his thick cock ramming its way inside of her.

He thought he would cumm immediately; just the feel of her, her warmth, the way she enveloped his starved member. He almost whimpered, never having felt this way before, it was so different when your love was involved; it was more than just being inside of her sex, he felt like he was slipping in to her soul. He was impaling her, sliding in to fill her completely, she had missed that feeling and at that very second she was overwhelmed with her need, wondering how the hell she had survived without him. She spread her thighs a little wider, welcoming him as he slid in to the hilt, forcing a cry from deep within both of them.

He pulled out slowly then slid back fast, growling at the intensity, grinding his teeth; she cried as he grabbed her wrists pulling her arms above her head, his mouth controlling hers as his movements took them both beyond an unreasonable amount of pleasure. Mimi's entire body began to quiver than shake her fingers and toes going numb, and electrified bullets firing off from her head down to her curling toes. Next thing she knew she was screaming to the heavens, crying as her orgasm paralyzed her making her shake with the intensity. Aries spilled his seed deep inside of her, filling her beyond capacity with his pent up need for her. 

"Oh my God, I love you," she cried, holding him as tightly to her as she could.

"You better." Breathing deep, he bent to kiss her again, wiping the tears from her face as he pulled back to look at her, "because you're never leaving my sight again." She knew by the look on his face that he meant it.

"I'm definitely down with that," she smiled ear to ear.

***

Rip sat in the passenger's side of the limousine, while Lana's chauffer, Raul cowered in the driver's side.

"Wow, you really thought she loved you huh?" Rip shook his head, popping his gum; each time he popped it, Raul cringed. "It must suck that she ratted you out." He shrugged, "oh well, if you don't want to cooperate, I'll just take what I have to Detective Angus and Aries' new lawyer, Devlin Sinclair. They should be able to help me piece it together." He opened the car door.

"NO! WAIT! PLEASE!" Howie cried out, and Rip turned to him. The man was a bumbling idiot, and definitely not sharp enough to have orchestrated a candy bar theft, let alone a complex cover for murder. No, this man was simply Lana's ex-sex toy-Henchman. 

Dumb oaf, Rip thought to himself, shaking his head at the crying man.

Despite Raul's large frame, he was not the aggressive type; he wasn't built to withstand pressure. He had always been submissive, he blamed his damn mother, the controlling she-devil had ruled his life with an iron fist, and the bible that she would knock him unconscious with a hard whack against the head when he could not recite a scripture on demand. He couldn't remember his school assignments or the combination to his locker and she knew that. She preyed on his stupidity and his ignorance. She had hated his father for being a cheater and had decided to take it out on his only child, since he was not man enough to be there to take the brunt of her scorned hatred. 

That was part of the reason he had worked so hard on his body, trying to make him self feel more manly, but it never worked, he always felt kind of soft. Now as a grown man he had claimed his weaknesses, and was now confident enough to admit to his extremely submissive side.

"I can't go to prison!" he cried, "I hate confrontation!" he was becoming a little wild eyed. "I'm too submissive for the slammer; they'll bend me over the first—"

"You have the chance to save your self right now." Rip stopped his hysterics before he got carried away.

"How?"

"Just tell the truth," Rip said holding up his microphone. "Tell me what happened to Brad Lowell." 

***

"I have to eat," his breath against her lips igniting her fever further. "And so do you," he said, slapping her ass as she straddled him. His cock had just finally gone soft, but he was nestled deep inside her enough for the slightest movement to spark something. There was no way he had any juices left to even give her, she had made damn sure he was dry as a bone.

"One more time." She was up on her elbows, planting a soft kiss against his lips. God help him but he couldn't help, but kiss her back; running his fingers over her butt then up her back. 

"You have to stop, you are going to kill me. I told you once the sun came up the second time I had to eat." He kissed her lips quick again, and then sat up with her still on his lap, his arm around her hips. "I want you to cook for me," he said. He was so sexy with his tussled hair, his blue eyes sparkling, she couldn't help but smile. She reached her hand up to run it through his waves, and the sheet slipped down to her waist, baring her exquisite breasts. He groaned deeply then ran his hands over the mounds as his member re-swelled inside of her




Luck Ch. 10



"Alright, I'll go make you something to eat." She kissed his lips lightly then made to rise from his lap.

"Oh, Hell no," he said, his dick too hard now to even think about his growling stomach. He pulled her back on top of him. She slid down slowly, inhaling deeper as each inch slid thickly inside of her. He held her hips forcing her to take all of him and she gasped hard, arching back a little he bent his head to her tight nipple slowly dragging his tongue over it before taking it into his mouth. 

She started to move her hips, popping them from side to side than back and forth then she raised up slowly then back down, riding the swelled tip of his glistening member for a second, teasing him, pulling up and forcing him out of her, than circling her hips so the head of that thick hard steel bounced against her clit, she reached down spreading her lips. 

She was driving him crazy and he couldn't take any more, he needed to have been inside of her 13 seconds ago. He braced her back with his muscular arm, and then went up to his knees and laid her on her back before spreading her thighs, mastering her. She arched, moved her hips wildly as he drove in and out of her making her start to lose her composure as that orgasm wracked through her body. He came right after her; Mimi's tightening muscles sending him into his own bliss. He collapsed on her.

"No more," he said, his body completely stripped of all fluids, he went up to his elbows, looking down at her with a smile, he bent his head back down and kissed her lips. "Come on, you're cooking."

***

Rip smiled ear to ear as he watched the footage from his mini-lipstick camera. Even if the chauffer changed his mind and decided to not turn himself in, Rip had his entire confession recorded.

"I got it," he said into his cell phone. "But I don't think we'll need it, I'm pretty sure he is ready to confess."

"Good work," Detective Angus said with a grin. He was Rip's biggest source of information. Rip could do things that Angus as a detective, was not allowed to do.

"Don't forget to send a copy to Sinclair."

"Already taken care of." 

***

Devlin Sinclair's grin mirrored that of both Rip and the Detective. He knew immediately that this guy was a pushover, and Sinclair would make lunch meat out of him on the stand if he tried to recant. With only circumstantial evidence, a taped confession from a participant in the murder and Devlin's natural talent, he knew this would be the easiest victory to date.



Luck Ch. 11



THE TRIAL

Devlin Sinclair owned the courtroom, this was his show and everyone inside of that room knew it, including the district attorney and the judge; who just happened to be a close personal college buddy of his father. Sinclair walked with the authority and confidence of a God. Only he could make his opponent shake and stutter, and unable to perform his own job.

Aries sat at the defense table. He wasn't the least bit worried; he had all the confidence in Sinclair, and the fact that all the evidence against him was circumstantial. He also knew about a particular witness who was going to clear things up about Lana's role in this entire situation.

Nomi Larue on the other hand was a mess, she could barley keep from crying; at several times she had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from yelling out and cursing anyone who said anything wrong about her man. She had a box of fresh tissues for each new day of court, unable to prevent the tears that continually leaked from her eyes. She wanted to hold Aries desperately; she needed to feel him close to her, and she longed to reassure him and put his mind at ease. Regardless of the fact that her old superstitious paranoia was telling her that something had to go wrong, she was trying to be strong for him. Her superstitions were kicking in times three, and she began to dwell on her disastrous and deadly streak of bad luck. She just prayed it had not rubbed off on him.

Merritt Jacobi testified for the defense. When the soft spoken veterinarian had finished, he stepped off the stand and left the court, hand in hand with his new girlfriend, the lovely Miss Ida VonHolmes. Things had ended perfectly for him with a new woman who just adored his daughters, who happened to be a wealthy widow. He was already starting to rebuild their new life; he just had to get Lana Lutz and all of her lies out of his system and out of his life, and doing his duty at court to help free an innocent man had inevitably cleansed him.

Next came Leslie Malone. Her testimony had the courtroom in tears; everyone listened as her love for this man still cried out though her words, her despair and pain obvious to every sobbing jury member. Then she finally lost it, and broke down in deep anguished sobs when she listened to the message Brad had left on her broken cell phone. hearing his voice echoing through the large courtroom had been her complete undoing. She knew now, beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the last time she would ever hear his voice again. 

But it was Raul Fitz that had the courtroom locked in a dead silence, the only noise was that of the man's nasally lisp as he spoke of the events from the night Brad Lowell was murdered.

"Lana had been seeing Brad off and on for months." He sat there, fidgeting with his expensive tailored jacket, making everyone in the courtroom and most of the members of the jury wonder how a man on a chauffer's salary could afford a suit like that. He was nervous to be there, but he was more nervous of the repercussions if he had not shown up.

"While she was dating Mr. Aries Stark?" Devlin Sinclair asked.

"Yes."

"How would you describe Miss Lutz and Mr. Lowell's relationship?"

"She seemed to be having a good time with him for a while, but I watched Brad make the same mistake I've seen many different men make over the years,"

"And what is that?"

"They fall in love." He looked down then, finally showing a glimpse of what people would assume was his own troubled love over Lana. "Love is definitely not in Lana's nature."

"I object your honor, it's purely speculation." Kenneth Blioki stood up.

"Your honor, we've already established that Miss Lutz had been having relations with the chauffer for over five years. Since he spent the majority of his time with Miss. Lutz, as we have well documented, it is safe to say he is the only one with any knowledge of the true relationship between Brad and Lana. He may be able to shed some light on Lana's state of mind at the time of the murder and the days leading up to it."

"Over ruled," the judge said, and Sinclair grinned smugly at Kenneth who promptly lowered his head.

"Thank you your honor," he bowed his head a bit.

"Please continue." Judge Mackey was beyond impressed with Devlin, if he had a son, he would have wanted him to be exactly like him. He was smart, observant, calculated and undefeated. Once the trial was over, he had all intentions of contacting his old college buddy and expressing his approval, followed with congratulations and cognac. 

"Their relationship had become rocky at best, but it was the night he learned of her true plan that things went straight down hill." Raul shook his head thinking of that night.

THAT NIGHT...

Brad Lowell took one last pull from his cigarette before walking into Lana's apartment. Brad was changing, for the first time in his life he felt like he was thinking for someone other then himself. He had never wanted children or a family, he always wanted a career, but after such a tumultuous relationship with a superficial bitch with slivers of stone imbedded in her dead heart, and the news that she was pregnant, he was ready for a change. For the first time in his life, his career was the last thing on his mind.

His father had been a bastard on his best days, and gone the rest of the time. Brad had learned early in life that he had only himself to count on, and he had always liked it that way; until he foolishly fell in love with Lana. Now he had bigger dreams, he wanted to satisfy something other than his bank account and his desperate need for acceptance and adulation; he craved that family love he had been denied in his childhood.

But Lana had other ideas.

He knew exactly what she was about; she was going to pass that baby off as Aries Starks'. Brad knew how much he looked like Aries, and knew it would be easy. There was just one minor detail she had forgotten in her plans; there was no way in hell Brad would let any man raise his son as long as he lived. As much as he loved Lana, he saw her for what she was and knew she would use that child as leverage at every opportunity she could get. She knew this baby meant a lot to her career, her financial state, and was detrimental in her plan to keep Aries all to herself.

Brad would not allow that to happen; he would do everything in his power to prevent it. He would change Lana's mind, even if he had to keep threatening to tell Aries about her affairs. He wanted to make it work with Lana, and he would use tonight for his last attempt. But after tonight, if she was still singing the same tune, he would go back to the place he knew he was wanted, with the woman he knew would be more than happy to help him raise his child.

"I can not let it happen," Brad said, sitting at her dining room table, a plate of oysters before him.

"You don't have a choice Bradley," she said taking a sip of her red wine.

"I do have a choice and there is no way in hell I will let you pass my child off as Aries baby." He shook his head, "I love you with all my heart Lana, but I will do anything in my power to stop you."

"But you can't stop me darling, it's already done."

"Well what ever you've done will be undone in the morning after I talk to Aries."

Lana was furious, she knew Brad was going to pull this, he was in love with her, she knew that for a fact, and it was one of the reasons he refused to let her go through with her plan. In his simple, little mind he honestly believed that baby would bring them back together. Well, she didn't want his family, and she no longer wanted anything to do with the threat-throwing, clingy man.

"I wouldn't advise it," she said, taking another sip of her red wine.

"Lana, sweetie, don't do this to me, please, let's just try this family thing for a little while, we'll make great parents, I'm ready to be a father, let me take care of you."

"On what income? You can't even land an acting job anymore, your Aries look-a-like factor is over-played, and no one wants anything to do with you," she laughed. "Did you honestly think I would chose you over Aries? Your stupider than I thought." She shook her head.

"Fine, then I guess our discussion is over." Brad had pride, and as much as he loved her, he could only take so much. He rose from his chair; this was a dead issue and now he was starting to get a strange feeling.

"You're sure I can't change your mind?" she asked.

"There is no way in hell I will ever change my mind, this is my baby and I want to raise it with or without you," he said briskly. It was the first time that he had ever really appreciated Leslie Malone; he missed her, her loyalty and her compassion. He knew now that she would be there for him. She would help him raise his child. She alone had been the only one he could ever rely on, and he had taken her for granted—well no more. He was getting the hell out of this mansion and away from Lana and her infectious doom, and he was going to beg Leslie for her forgiveness after he told her the whole sordid story.

"Fine, then I am sorry Bradley, but I cannot allow you to destroy my future." As she spoke, the chauffer walked in, "or the future of my child," she grinned smugly, "Aries' child." 

Brad was smart enough to know what was going on, without another word, he ran as fast as he could through the opposite dining room door and into the main lobby, he had just yanked open the door, took a breath of the air outside, thinking he was free, when suddenly he was overpowered. No matter how hard he fought, the hulking man had him trapped, dragging him back into the house. Lana quickly locked the front door and grabbed the poisonous gas with the attached mask. Raul held him still, his knees on Brad's arms, and the rest of his huge muscular body on Brad's torso and chest, immobilizing him

"You did this to yourself, Bradley," Lana said as she bent down next to Brad's head.

"Wait," he pleaded. 

"It's too late for that now." She shook her head in disgust before looking at Raul, "Hold him tight," she said trying to slip the mask over his face.

"NO! LANA, PLEASE NO!" he shook his head back and forth.

"Hold his head still!" she snapped at Raul, who promptly held the man's head in one large hand.

"Please!" he cried right before she slipped the mask over his face, stifling all sound...

Raul abruptly snapped back to the presant day; sitting there on that stand looking out on a sea of horrified faces.

"It was horrible, she watched him until the last second, just smiling as he died." Raul shook his head, hating to think back to that demented day when everything spun out of control. "After that she had me dispose of his body, and to make sure no one ever found him but in case they did, she requested I made him unidentifiable."

"Is that why his teeth were smashed and his fingers and toes removed? " Sinclair asked, noticing the horrified look on the face of every juror.

"Yes," he sobbed hard, the tears openly and unabashedly falling from his eyes. "I warned him, I told him Lana loved no one and no way would she ever fall for him, but he wouldn't listen. He was convinced he could change her mind," he said taking a large drink of water, then setting the glass back down. "If only he had listened to me, he would be alive today."

***

Sinclair moved for all the charges to be dropped, and Aries Starks' named cleared. There was no hesitation on behalf of the judge or the district attorney. The man was clearly innocent, even the circumstantial evidence against him spoke of some one else's guilt. The judge and the district attorney both knew who the real murderer was, and they now had the task of finding the missing Lana Lutz.

***

They had been in disguise, Aries was Jack once again, but this time Mimi was 'Jill'. They found out quickly that Aries star was so bright that he had ignited her, and she was now a celebrity in her own right. She wasn't the least bit impressed. and she could honestly care less. The only thing she cared about was Aries. 

Jack and Jill were the perfect couple; Jill, with her deep red mullet wig, hot pink cat glasses, large sun hat with the wide brim that covered the top half of her face, and Jack, with his thick beard and Yankees baseball cap.

Now, due to clever reporters and photographers, Jack and Jill had been exposed. The disguised couple had been walking down the isle of the local department store when the story broke of the disguise. 

"Oh, shit," Aries said, looking around at the news. They just happened to be in the electronics department and all of the display televisions were running the same news channel. 

"What's wro—" she stopped dead in her tracks, seeing them in their disguises on television, a picture of them out of disguise next to it.

"Busted." He was looking around, already noticing the people around them noticing them. He grabbed her hand and started to walk, "don't even look at them." She immediately put her head down and started the fast paced walk.

"It's him!" they heard a woman shout. 

Next thing they knew, they were being chased through the store by a growing crowd. The stores security had managed to slow the crowd down a little, giving the two of them just enough time to try and slip away.

"Come here," he said seeing all of the people by the exit. He ran her back down by the sporting goods, he ran halfway down the isle when he stopped, looking at rows of display tents set up on either side of them; he unzipped the big navy blue one and pulled her in behind them, then zipped it back up, just as a few people ran by the tent. He put his finger to her lips until they passed.

"How are we going to get out of here?" she asked.

"I have no idea," he grinned, and she smiled ear to ear. 

"I guess I don't need this any more," she said, and began pulling off the wig and the hat, and then, taking off the glasses.

"No more Jill?" He pulled her closer to him.

"No more Jill," She grinned as he pulled her onto his lap, facing him, "and no more Jack."

"Just us." He kissed her lips lightly running his hands over her hips, "and a department store mob." 

"Kinky," she joked. And he kissed her. 

He lifted her shirt and let his hands slip into her bra, cupping her large breasts. She was kissing him wildly, undoing his jeans, and sliding his large thick member from his pants. He broke the kiss, pulling the cups of her bra below her breasts; he bent his head and took a tip into his warm mouth, she moaned, arching slightly, pushing her breast closer to his skilled mouth as he latched down harder. He slid her skirt up, sliding his hand into her panties, and his finger inside of her—she arched deeply this time, throwing her head back, and he pushed it up to his knuckle. He worked her until he knew she was going to cum, and then kissed her, taking her cry into his mouth. 

Aries did not have the patience or the ability to think hard enough to figure out how to remove her thong in a tent they could barely even stand up in, so he grabbed the crotch and yanked it hard until it ripped than he lifted her by her hips and slid her down on top of him, making sure he kept kissing her, so no one would be able to hear cry out. He pulled her all the way down on top of him, then raised her up slowly, then back down on him. Some where during it he lost a little control, putting her on her back and than driving in and out of her. He always lost all of his senses the minute he entered her body. He kissed her deeply as her orgasm started, and he felt him self Cumming. Just as he had spilled at least a gallon of his seed inside of her, he heard an unfamiliar voice.

"Mr. Stark, it's security, we've made a way for you to leave unnoticed out of the back door," the man said on the other side of the tent.

They both looked at each other; there was no way in hell he was done with her right now. He unzipped the tent just enough for him to poke his head out, careful not to let him see inside, 

"Just give me like five more minutes."

'Ten," Mimi said to him. He looked at her, half dressed and dying for him to be back inside of her.

"Fifteen minutes," he smiled.

"Absolutely, sir." The man nodded before walking down to the end of the isle, as Aries re-zipped the tent and went back to his beautiful fiancee.

THE AFTERMATH

Aries was more famous than he had ever been, but he didn't care anymore. The same paparazzi that had actually inspired bouts of intense rage from their invasion, now invoked no emotion from him now. Mimi was perfect with her ability to ignore them or even crack jokes to put him at ease. It didn't seem to bother her, even when she was photographed and swarmed by paparazzi just for going to the store. She was an amazing woman, and he was more amazed with her by the day. 

There was one day in particular that the press had finally gotten to him.

They had searched long and hard for the most secluded little island they could find. This was the most special and precious day of their life thus far, their wedding day, and Aries would be damned if he let the press invade it. He had finally found the perfect spot, so far from civilization and the rest of the word, they had to fly to get there; even their experienced pilot had trouble finding it.

"Just be prepared, you know how much the paparazzi loves you," Rip said to him once they were on the ground. Marz and Rip were his best men, standing beside him.

"I'll never be prepared for the press," he said. 

"Don't worry homie, we are." Marz smiled, and just when Aries would turn to question Marz, he saw his breath-taking, gorgeous wife coming out of the bungalow and the comment was instantly forgotten.

Aries would learn exactly what Marz meant during the tail end of their ceremony. Just as the minister pronounced them man and wife, the first helicopter appeared, landing a half a mile from where they stood. Aries felt his blood boil and his face turned red as he watched two other helicopters land in the same area.

"I can't fuckin' believe it." He was furious as he watched them start to come toward them.

"Hey, I have an idea." Mimi turned his head to face her, "a little wager." She smiled widely, "if you can get me out of here before they attack, I'll show you that new trick I learned with my tongue," she pulled his head closer to her so she could whisper in his ear, "and I'll show you until you beg me to stop." Aries completely forgot his anger and the press running towards them.

Marz, Luci, Lyndsy and Rip had other ideas; they had planned ahead, just by some chance if the paparazzi had discovered that the wedding was taking place, and where it would be held. They ran to the small cabana and grabbed the huge suitcases, opening them, and grabbing dozens upon dozens of cartons filled with eggs.

Instead of throwing rice as the bride and groom left, they made targets out of the photographers and reporters, covering them with rotten and fresh eggs. Aries and Mimi jumped in the helicopter, laughing hysterically as they watched their friends make minced meat out of the unlucky members of the press. 

"BYE!" Luci yelled, waving to them as the helicopter started going up.

"We love you!" Lyndsy screamed.

"Have a good time!" Rip yelled.

"We'll see you when you get back!" Marz finished, and then all four of them went back to chucking eggs at the now retreating press.

Mimi and Aries waved goodbye, still laughing wildly as they watched their friends plaster the press as they ran away from the oncoming onslaught. 

As the helicopter went into the air, Aries grabbed her face between his hands and kissed her.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look Mrs. Stark?" he asked, kissing her lips again lightly.

"Only 300 times Mr. Stark," she kissed him back smiling.

"How about how much I love you."

"333 times."

"Did I tell you how much I want to rip that dress off and—" she cut him off with a quick kiss.




Luck Ch. 11



"Don't tell me," she smiled and kissed her husbands lips lightly, "Show me." 

***

Once the press was gone from the scene, Luci, Lyndsy, Marz, and Rip, all looked up into the clear blue sky watching their friends fly away for their wedding night.

"I say we stay here for the weekend," Luci said to Marz.

"I agree!" Lyndsy looked at Rip, "It's so beautiful here."

Lyndsy and Rip stood along the edge of the water—kissing.

"Looks like love," Luci said with a smile as she watched Lyndsy and her new official boyfriend. Marz picked her up and swung her around before bending to kiss her. 

"It is," she laughed, "Everything turned out perfectly."

"We're lucky."

"Yes we are." he kissed her.

***

The woman stumbled through the emergency room entrance, holding her large belly, and crying. The woman was a sight to behold, and a far cry from the beauty queen that had once inhabited her body. Her feet were bare, her clothes were as filthy as her body, her hair was greasy and her face contorted with pain. 

"I need a doctor!" she hissed; the receptionist did not understand English, and Lana was in too much pain to be able to speak any language other than her native tongue.

A nurse rushed out hearing the commotion, she spoke some English but it was not that good, and she was no where near fluent enough to understand what the screaming woman was saying. Instead, she used her basic common sense to assess the situation. She ran over to the pregnant woman after telling the receptionist to call the doctor down.

"Come with me," she said while trying to take her hand and the woman with the short black hair and bright blonde roots snatched her hand back in disgust. The nurse didn't need to speak fluent English to understand that rude gesture. The nurse held her tongue as she said, "I will take you to a room for the doctor to check you," in broken English. Once in the room, Lana had become even more angry and spewing more verbal abuse at everyone trying to help her.

"I am not lying on this filthy fucking bed!" Lana yelled, holding her belly as another pain wracked through her. "You—" she pointed to the doctor as she entered the room, "You need to change these sheets. NOW!" she yelled and then bent over as another contraction ripped through her. 

The doctor, a much respected doctor in there area did speak fluent English, and she was none to impressed with the rude woman belittling her staff. "What kind of a hospital is this? Are you even a licensed doctor?" she spat out looking at the young Mexican woman, "you don't look old enough to be out of college," she hissed.

The doctor had been through a lot in her young life, she had dealt with stereo types, sexist demeanors, and fought poverty to become what she was today. Even though she had graduated first of her class with top honors, and she could basically have had her pick of top jobs, she chose to say close to home and her family. Her tiny little desolate town, where medical help was as elusive as wealth, meant the world to her; she had been raised within this community, and she loved each of them. She wanted to help, and had always been more concerned with people and their feelings and health, than becoming rich. She was needed here, so, it was here that she set up practice. When another nurse entered, the first nurse turned to her.

"I know her," she said in her native tongue.

"Who?" The other questioned. 

"Her." She nodded to the woman who was finally laying down on what she had deemed a repulsive bed, still screaming in pain. The second nurse took a closer look and gasped.

The woman on the bed was a mess, her eyes were red and puffy; having left her black contacts in too long, Lana had gotten a nasty eye infection. She was hoping it would clear up enough to put the contacts back in before she went into labor, but just her luck, the infection had gotten worse. So her natural pale eyes, that unusual shade of aqua, were a dead give away, than added with the bright blonde roots that had grown in, her American accent, and Caucasian features, told them immediately who she was.

Once the doctor had given her the epidural, and Lana had managed to calm down a bit, Dr. Ramirez took the nurses outside of the room.

"This woman was on the morning news."

"She is Lana Lutz, she played in my favorite TV series," the head nurse interjected. It was true, the series had a small cult following in Mexico, since the syndicated show ran re-runs five days a week on basic television, anyone with a TV set was familiar with her face.

"And now she is on the run," the doctor said to them, "she is being accused of murder."

"What will we do?" the first nurse put her hands to her face.

"We have no choice; we have to call the authorities, they say she is armed and dangerous and if she realizes we are on to her, there is no telling what she will do."

***

Rip had been offered an excellent position at 'Celebrity Skinz' as their lead journalist. How could he resist? He had someone else in his life now besides himself to look after. Although, he highly doubted his well organized new fiancée needed anyone to take care of her, he relished the thought of doing so. It hadn't taken long before they both realized they had definitely found their soul mate. Rip never knew that life could be so bright and sunny and clear of all negativity. 

Rip felt like a new man, and had decided on a little island getaway with the love of his life. They had just laid down by the beach, and Rip was eager to massage the suntan oil into her flawless skin. He had just begun re-confessing his love for her when his cell phone went off.

"I thought you said no cell phones," she looked at him.

"This is the emergency cell," he said, his eyes going wide as he grabbed the tiny little phone out of the small satchel he had brought along.

"Hello?" he said.

"How are you enjoying your vacation?" Detective Angus asked his friend.

"I am having the time of my life," he smiled, kissing Lyndsy's shoulder. "How are you enjoying retirement?"

"I appreciate it much more after going out with such a bang," he said whilst thinking of the last case of his long career. He missed his job something awful, investigation was in his blood, and then he turned to his backyard and his large family, and remembered why he had retired. It was time to spend the rest of his days just enjoying the family he had helped create and loved so dearly. "I have some incredible news."

"What's that?"

"They found her." The side of his mouth curled up in a satisfied grin as he reported the news. "They found Lana Lutz."

"You're kidding me." Rip jumped up, getting Lyndsy's attention, "Where?"

"Still in Mexico. She was in the middle of giving birth; she even tried to escape the hospital while in labor." Angus shook his head still not able to picture that.

"Finally!" he jumped up and down triumphantly and Lyndsy, seeing his joy, stood up beside him, looking at him questioningly. "Have you told Aries?"

"Not yet, I thought maybe you'd be the best man for that job," he smiled, "but I have a thick, juicy sirloin waiting for me on the grill so I have to go, but I will be in touch."

"I'm counting on it," Rip said, looking over to his own juicy delight.

"What's going on?" Lyndsy asked.

"They found Lana," he said, and Lyndsy's eyes grew as wide as saucers as she grabbed the phone. "Wait, I have to tell Aries," he chuckled, knowing exactly what she was about.

"Not until after I tell Mimi."

***

Deep in the middle of the garden was a small maze, not too complex so one could not escape, but definitely complex enough so one could not be found.

In the middle of the maze was a clearing where a thick stone dining table with several tiny stone benches around it was built. They of course sat on top of the table, enjoying a bottle of champagne, and a spread of food around them that would make even kings envious. Mimi wore a small thin white cotton summer dress, and Aries found certain areas hardening more each time the wind blew, exposing a little more of her skin.

"Where is Lana now?" Mimi asked him, the thin strap of her dress slipping over her shoulder

"In Mexico," Aries said, as he helped the strap of her gown down her shoulder more. "Once she's been tried for Julio's murder, they will expedite her back to the states for the murder of Brad Lowell."

"Is it wrong to celebrate?" she wasn't sure how she felt. She had never met the woman who had brought so much pain and destruction to everyone in her path; she was a stone cold murderess, but Mimi could not bring herself to hate the mother of the baby she had been caring for. She knew at one point or another, Taurus would ask her about his mother, and Mimi would be honest; but she'd be careful not to speak horribly about her. Taurus would have enough to deal with at that point, and Mimi would protect him until it was over, or at least sorted. Taurus was an innocent victim of his mother's greed, and Mimi had already seen what the murderesses' violent tendencies had done to her son's reputation. 

Once the paparazzi realized that Mimi and Aries had Lana's baby they went ballistic, trying desperately to get pictures of the boy. The press was certain that it meant the baby must be Aries' so that was the headline of every magazine for months, regardless of the truth. Mimi figured it was best to let them think that, it was none of their business anyway whose Taurus real father was. Mimi took all precautions when it came to the baby; she was super smart, careful and quick thinking enough, to never let them get close to Taurus. That's why there was such an obscene amount of money offered for any available pictures. 

Aries on the other hand sat back and let her take control of the situation, since he was only able to react with violence when it came to the press. Mimi on the other hand dealt with the oncoming paparazzi like an old pro. He was also beyond impressed with Mimi's parenting skills, and couldn't wait for her to have his child. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his children would be well taken care of, deeply loved and well-protected. His wife was a survivor who knew how to take care of her family.

"We're not celebrating her incarceration, we're celebrating our freedom," he smiled, pulling her closer to him so he could kiss her luscious lips. "To us."

"To us," she raised her glass, "and Taurus."

"And Taurus." They sipped their champagne, "and I want to kiss my wife." he pulled her closer to him and she puckered up, "no, not there." he grinned lifting up her dress to her waist, sliding his finger down to her white cotton panties, "here." She looked at his eyes, loving the fact that he couldn't keep his hands off her even long enough to finish their toast. 

Aries laid her down on the table, and then slowly stripped the cotton dress from her body, kissing every inch he exposed before making love to her for the rest of the afternoon. Right there. In the middle of the massive stone table. In the center of their secluded little garden.

***

It was strange how karma worked, Lana had gotten what she had asked for, she was more famous than any other celebrity on the face of the planet, and her double murder trial was the trial of the century. 

Lana stood there, tears pouring down her face, but this time she didn't need a vial of fake tears, as she wasn't acting. She had just been convicted of first degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

***

Mimi sat across from Lana at a decaying wooden table at the women's maximum security prison.

"I want to legally adopt Taurus." Mimi refused to beat around the bush.

"Who?" she asked, a billow of cigarette smoke coming out of her semi pursed lips.

"Taurus, your son."

"Oh," she said, and then shrugged, "pay me and you can have him."

"Selling children is illegal," she said in disgust.

"What do I care, I'm in here for the rest of my life," she glared at Mimi.

"Exactly, so sign these papers," she slid them over to her, "and I guarantee that your son will be taken care of for the rest of his life," she said.

"I want my commissary filled each month until I die," she said smashing the cigarette in the ash tray, then immediately lighting another one.

"Is that all he is to you? Money?"

"Yes," she said coldly. "What else could he be?" she said flatly, as if she were discussing her laundry.

"You cold-hearted, selfish bitch, he's your son!"

"Well, I don't have time to think about that, do I. right now all I have time to think about is survival, I can't think about a son I will never see, never be able to hold." Mimi swore she saw a flash of sorrow cross Lana's face, but she masked it so quickly it was hard to tell. "Why do you care anyway? He's not even Aries' son, he's the son of the man I murdered," she spat.

"Because I was there the day that tiny baby cried alone in a nursery, shivering and under-nourished with low body temperature; and I stayed there everyday until he finally got out, and then I took him home. And as you know he's been with us ever since." A smile graced her lips as she thought of Taurus.

"Well, that's your dumb-ass for taking in a baby that you weren't even sure was your husbands," she shrugged. 

"You honestly wanted me to just leave him there in the custody of child protection until we found out if he was Aries?" she asked; unable to even stand the thought of Taurus in that cold unloving, uncaring environment. He was an innocent victim in the middle of all this mess and Mimi swore that she would protect him from the cruel world his mother had created for him. 

The paternity tests came back quickly and it was determined that there was no way Aries was the father, but Mimi didn't care who his parents were at that point; she was in love with the baby and she refused to give him up, regardless whose blood he shared. Under the circumstances, Aries agreed that it was probably best to legally adopt him. 

She had been convinced that he was Aries son, he even looked exactly like him, and so most people automatically assumed he was. In all reality Taurus looked just like Brad, who just happened to have been born with a face that resembled Aries so much that people mistook them even in death. It was that face that had made Aries a megastar, and had made Brad famous for looking like Aries. It was also that face that had made Lana Lutz choose him in the first place; a submissive Aries was a dream come true for her. It might have even lasted, if Brad hadn't grown attached, foolishly fallen in love, and then decided to grow a backbone.

"And even if he was, who in their right mind would take her husband's and his ex-fiancée's child in as their own?"

"Lana please, let me give him the life he deserves, the life I am sure you would have given him if you could." She tried to reason with her regardless of the fact that she wanted to shake the shit out of her until she signed over full-custody.

"Fine." Lana held her hand out for the pen, the guard came behind her and dropped it in he hand, standing close while she signed the paper work. "Here." She handed the pen back to the guard. Mimi took the signed paper looking at her signature a smile spreading wide across her mouth. "Happy now?"

"Thank you," she smiled with a nod, "I'll fill your commissary before I leave." 

"Thanks."

"I can also bring Taurus by when ever you like so you can see him."

"No, I don't want to see him and I don't want him to ever see me like this." She looked into Mimi's eyes, this time the pain was evident and she wasn't trying to hide it, yet. 

"If you change your mind—"

"I wont," she said seriously.

"You have a lot to be proud of; he's so smart, and loving. He is the cutest little baby I have ever seen," her smile was wide with pride. She had an unexplainable desperation to make Lana realize what a wonderful little boy Taurus was.

"What does It look like?" she asked.

"Wait," Mimi grabbed her purse and took pictures out of her wallet. She laid them down in front of Lana and she hesitantly picked one up.

"He looks like Brad," she said as she thought of the man for the first time in a long time, "And Aries."

"I know. That's the strange part, he looks exactly like Aries." She smiled before taking the picture Lana handed back.

"Time up," the guard said.

"Well, he's your son now," she said. "I know he'll have a good life." Lana stood as the guard came towards her. "Thanks." She did a little side smile that barley reached her eyes.

"Take care, Lana." Mimi said, and Lana nodded as the guard led her out of the room. 

***

The adorable, little girl with the long jet black waves, and honey colored eyes, stood outside. Her tiny five year old frame looked miniscule in front of the massive mansion. Below the surface of the angelic face were a spirit that could not be broken, and a sense of self that was unusual for a child her age. She was wearing her prettiest pink dress and her new silky pink bows in her pigtails. She held an Easter basket as she skipped and sung. She knew what was happening today. Today they were going to a special Easter picnic at her godmother Lyndsy's house, and her godfather Rip had gone out of his way to make sure that Star had the pink mini bike she had wanted—despite the strong disapproval of her mother. 

Only one thing stood in her way, and that was the cars that were now pulling up in front of her house. Even though her father had retired from acting, he had found his real passion in architecture and directing. Unfortunately his star had been so big and bright, even years after his retirement he was still being stalked. Only now they limited it to holidays and any chance sightings of the children.

For years their main focus had been Taurus, Mimi had actually taken him out of school because of the recent scandal of his mother stabbing her cell mate and facing yet another trial. Taurus had been through hell and back, as the only child of convicted murderess and former child star Lana Lutz and Brad Lowell who had been murdered by his mother, and then add the fact that he was now being raised by the equally famous Aries Stark; the child didn't really have a chance of not being a major headliner. The poor boy was a smorgasbord for the starving press, and his whole life was flipped upside down and inside out each time Lana did something else newsworthy in prison.

Mimi was the protective mother lioness, and she did not play around when it came to her children. Taurus, even at his young age knew what it was all about; he had been through so much with the paparazzi no matter how much they tried to protect him. There were still a few times when they had leaked through. Aries was a victim of the press and had hoped he would be able to help Taurus understand what was going on. Luckily the boy took it well and did not let him bother him too much, although occasionally he would get frustrated, angry, and lash out. 

Now they had switched their focus onto the other Stark child; the beautiful little girl who looked so much like her mother, but with her father's exact shade of eyes. She was in private school, but even a posh, elusive boarding school for kinder gardeners could not keep away the press. At her Christmas concert, Star had sung jingle bells and dazzled the crowd with the voice of an angel, shocking everyone that watched that such a big voice was coming from such a little thing. Star had become a star in her own rite that day. 

Aries had not wanted either of his children to be in the spotlight, and he wasn't happy about the recent craze over the soon to be six year old's talent. He was proud, there was no mistaking it; he couldn't help but crack a smile at just the thought of his little girl. He was amazed by her and he wanted to keep her safe and secure. But alas, her talent was too amazing to keep hidden or grounded. There was nothing he could do about it, his daughter was born to be a star; it was written in the heavens, and if she chose to pursue her singing, which he knew she would, he would have no choice but to let her soar.




Luck Ch. 11



"Are you ready?" she heard her eight year old stepbrother's, Taurus's, voice in the mini-walkie-talkie she had in her large Easter basket.

"I am," she said, skipping and singing. She knew it would be the perfect trap, they could not resist her. Just as the press started to charge the gate, Star stopped singing then with her sweetest smile she could muster, she dazzled them making them all collectively "ohh and ahhh' over her. That's when that angelic smile twisted up to the side in a devious smirk

"Go!" she yelled and without warning, the press was suddenly under attack with buckets of honey, followed by a liberal amount of feathers and all the while Star soaked them with her extra-large super-soaker water gun, which she had mixed a large amount of red food dye with the water.

Taurus had orchestrated it; he remembered his parents' wedding day stories and how his godparents had managed to chase the press away with eggs. So, he had used his powers of manipulation, coupled with Star's charismatic and endearing personality, to talk every member of the staff into helping. Although it didn't take much to convince them, they had been there with the Stark family since the day they decided to settle at the big house, they too saw what the family and especially the children went through because of the press. They were more than happy to help. 

It had worked, and everyone laughed as they watched the frazzled press run away covered in honey and feathers.

"Run rabbits, run!" Taurus teased them, squirting them with his own blue dye and water concoction.

"Happy Easter, you stalker bunnies!" Star yelled to them draining the last of her water gun on the fleeing press. Both children held onto the gate, laughing wildly, watching the press run around like chickens with their heads cut off, and scrambling to get into their vehicles and away from the attackers.

"We won!" Taurus yelled raising his arms in the air triumphantly. There pranks and torturous plots against the paparazzi was all they had against the vultures.

"That was fun," Star smiled.

"I promised you a bunch of Easter bunnies," he chuckled. 

"Human sized bunnies are perfect for Easter," she clapped her hands.

"You did a good job, Starry." He smiled, and then picked her up in a bear hug, swinging her as the staff circled around them all happy with their own glee over their win. Every one of them proud of themselves and the children, and more than happy to help the disastrous, albeit amazing, duo in any way they could.

"If we do it every time they show up—"

"Maybe they'll stop showing up," Star finished with a grin. then suddenly the staff dispersed, all going back into the house as Aries Stark walked out of the front door and over to his children.

"I saw that," he said, picking Star up. Taurus eyes grew wide as he stepped back, hoping Star would give her daddy one of those breath taking smiles to smooth it over. 

"But you said if the parra—papazi— porpar—"

"The press." Taurus helped her along.

"Yeah, them, you said if the press was here we had to wait until they left to go to auntie Lyndsy's and uncle Rip's."

"Yea, and Marz promised to finish teaching me to box, and Rip got Starry her bike," Taurus said hoping to sooth the situation. Aries just grinned. These two little things were undercover masterminds, and the two of them together spelt trouble. He really appreciated the way Taurus looked out for and protected Star, it was very reassuring.

"I really want my bike daddy," she smiled that infamous smile.

"Well you've earned it," he smiled and kissed her cheek, "and if your mother sees this honey on your new dress your going to need that bike to get away from her." He carried her to the house chuckling. 

***

Mimi sat in one of the lawn chairs, her hand on her large belly. She watched in awe as her tiny little baby girl sang for the kids and ended up with all the kids and the adults at the barbeque in utter silence, still amazed by her impressive set of pipes. Mimi knew it was just the beginning of their lives, and she felt a little bad that Aries would inevitably be back in the lime light. Star was already talking about a music career, and being signed by a major record company and she wasn't even six yet. Of course Taurus had a lot to do with it, he loved her voice and made her sing to him all of the time; he even had convinced her that she would be more famous than either of their parents.

Mimi looked to her right to see Luci picking up Star, and dancing with her, as Star continued to sing; and then to her far right she watched as Marz gave Taurus his recent boxing lesson. The little boy was exceptionally strong, and already had the skills of an old pro, and Mimi wasn't sure who was prouder, Taurus, Aries, or Marz.

To her left she watched as Lyndsy and Rip kissed a little before she fed him a piece of cherry pie, and he sat there as happy as a pig in mud. Then, she looked in front of her and watched as her handsome husband walked over to her, sitting on the edge of the chair facing her. He handed her a tall glass of lemonade.

"Thank you," she said.

"Twins," he grinned and rubbed his hand over his wife's large belly. "I still can't believe it."

"And I thought we were gong to stop with three."

"No, I told you I want five."

"No way in hell Aries Stark, this is it, no more babies," she said and he grinned leaning into her.

"The minute you give birth, I'm getting you pregnant again," he chuckled as he leaned his head down and kissed her belly.

"Maybe," she grinned "if you're lucky."

"I don't need luck, Nomi Stark," he said as he reached for her hand. "I have you." 

THE END...